Mary Lewis

Mary Nell Wilkerson Lewis, longtime resident of Marland, passed away Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at the Ponca City Medical Center. She was 94 years of age.

Nell was born July 24, 1917 at Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, the daughter of Daniel Wilkerson and Lottie Mae Wadley Wilkerson. She attended school at Bradley, Oklahoma and Ponca City. After graduation she attended Ponca City Business School and then Northern Oklahoma Junior College in Tonkawa. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree from Central State University of Edmond, Oklahoma, now known as the University of Central Oklahoma. She did further study at Oklahoma State University. She taught school for 39 years, with 38 of those years being in the Marland School system, where she retired from teaching in 1981. She also served as grade school principal, and in 1974, was named the Noble County Teacher of The Year.

She was married to Walton Lewis on April 23, 1955 in Alva, Oklahoma. Her husband raised and raced throughbred horses with Nell traveling around the country with him in the summer months. She was a member of the Marland MethodistChristian Church. She was also a member of the Oklahoma Retired Teachers Association. Her enjoyments included her family, traveling through Europe, the Middle East, many of the lower 48 states, Canada and Mexico. She also enjoyed playing dominos, cards and bingo. Joking with her friends and family brought her great joy. She was a resident of Sterling House of Ponca City for the past six years.

She is survived by several nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. They include Don Wilkerson and wife, Clara, Donna and George Cole, Bill and Logena Wilkerson and Joyce Beck Walton of Hutchison, Kansas, Cheryl Robinson of Muskegon, Michigan, Linda Short and husband, Chris, of Marland, Amy Bidnick and husband, Jon, of Aruba, Janell Harman and husband, James, of Ponca City, and David Wilkerson and wife, Susan, of Marland. She was preceded in death by her parents her husband Walton, on October 15, 1974 two brothers, Frank Wilkerson and Philip Wilkerson one sister, Barbara Wilkerson Beck and 2 infant brothers, Jesse and Marfield.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 4, 2012 at the Marland MethodistChristian Church with Pastor Chris Short presiding. Interment will follow in the Ponca City I.O.O.F. Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Casket bearers will be Mark Walton, Nolan Walton, Ryan Robinson, Jayson Shriver, Jared Shriver, Cody Harman, Heath Harman and Jake Wilkerson.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Marland MethodistChristian Church, Box 486, Marland, OK 74644 or to the Marland Community Center Fund, 18400 Badlands, Marland, OK 74644.