Mary Jane Erickson Obituary

Mary Jane Erickson, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully on July 14, 2023. She was 96 years old. Born on August 28, 1926, in Blue Rapids, Kansas, Mary Jane was the oldest of two daughters born to Shirley Sherman and Virginia Ann Orman. The family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where both parents were teachers/administrators at Central High School.

Mary Jane was a 1945 graduate of Central High School and continued her education at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, where she majored in fashion design. She was an award-winning designer during her time there. While attending Stephens, she was introduced to a handsome young man attending the University of Missouri--Richard Paul (Dick) Erickson. They were married in a double wedding ceremony with her sister at First Presbyterian Church in Tulsa on July 31, 1948. Mary Jane designed and made both wedding dresses and veils.

The next few years brought children (Sherri Lynn, Cinda Jane, Richard Paul Jr.), and moves to Williamsburg, Virginia, and Albany, New York, before the family settled back in Tulsa permanently in 1960. They built a house in the Memorial school district where they would live for 40 years. Dick and Mary Jane joined Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church in 1963 where they became lifetime active members. Dick was an elder and Sunday School teacher, Mary Jane sang in the choir (over 50 years) and taught at the Kirk Pre-School.

Young children were the joy of Mary Jane's life. Pictures of babies and young children were the subject of her childhood scrapbooks, and when her children were old enough for school, she began to teach pre-school. She would teach young children for the next 20 years. She was a hands-on teacher who created unit studies with costumes, props, messy but fun art, and songs. She was always a popular presenter at teacher workshops. Her love for children peaked when she had grandchildren! She was always available to care for them and create special activities for them to enjoy at "Nana's House." Later in life, while living at Inverness Village, she was instrumental in recruiting a group of volunteers from the retirement community to visit Freedom School each week to listen to the children read.

Mary Jane was a life-long learner. She was an active member of P.E.O. for 73 years and enjoyed her relationships there. She and her sister took 10 overseas trips together from 1970-2005 and she documented all of them in writing and with pictures. She continued to love fashion design, and designed and sewed for herself, her children, and her grandchildren. She designed and made a custom wedding dress for one of her daughters, just as she had done for herself and her sister so many years ago.

Preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Richard (Dick) Erickson, Mary Jane is survived by her sister Shirley Ann Breeden of La Mesa, California, her three children, Sherri Swinson (James) of Jenks, Oklahoma, Cindy Johnston of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and Rick Erickson of Skiatook, Oklahoma; six grandchildren (Christopher, Catherine, Amy, Katy, Danny, Becky), and six great grandchildren. She was loved by many and will be missed.

The family is extremely grateful for the loving care given to Mary Jane in the last year of her life, by Annie, Bria, Chris, Morgan, Robin, and Tim of Suncrest Hospice.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Kirk Of The Hills, 4102 East 61st Street, on Friday, July 28th at 4:00 p.m.

Because of Mary Jane's love for children, in lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be directed to Connected Kids/Tulsa, OK at connectedkids.org