Obituary

Mary Winifred Childress, 80, of Hale Center, formerly of Coweta, Okla., passed away peacefully from this life Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011, at the home of Valorey Totten in Catoosa, Okla. She was born Sept. 24, 1930, in Coweta, Okla., to James Farmer and Winona Ross Secrest. At the age of 16 she married J.Y. Childress and they moved to West Texas to be farmers. After 46 years of marriage, she lost J.Y. to cancer in 1992. She kept their home in Hale Center until she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Her son, Lee, moved back to care for her as long as he could. After his death, Mary was relocated to her final home with the Tottens. Her health had deteriorated dramatically over the last few years, and although she will be missed, it was her time. Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, J.Y. Childress; her son, H. Lee Childress; her parents, James Farmer and Winona Ross Secrest; and a sister, Winona Stafford. Left to cherish her memory is her daughter, Judy K. Boles of Victor, Idaho; grandchildren, Sara and Savannah Boles of Victor, Idaho, and Katherine and Kirk Childress of Dallas; and great-grandchildren, Daniel Lee and Skylar Monet. Also surviving her are many friends and relatives in Texas and Oklahoma. Mrs. Childress was a lifelong member of the Methodist church, specifically in Hale Center. Her life exemplified the virtues of honesty and faith, which she instilled in her children. A funeral service will be at 4 p.m Thursday at Wright Funeral Home Chapel in Coweta. She will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband at a graveside ceremony at 12 p.m. Saturday in Plainview Cemetery and Memorial Park under the direction of Wright Funeral Home of Coweta. The family wishes to thank the Tottens for their love and support of Mary in her final days. Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice or to Alzheimer's research. Condolences may be sent to www.wrightfh.net.