Mary Anne Mayer

Mary Anne (Atkins) Mayer, 67, longtime Guymon resident, died October 31, 2018, in Guymon, Oklahoma.  Mary Anne was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on October 19, 1951, the first child of James Robert and Ardyth Evonne (Skewes) Atkins.  After her father completed veterinary school at Oklahoma State University in 1954, the family returned to Guymon where Mary Anne was raised and spent all of her adult years.  She was a loving sister to her younger brother, John Arthur Atkins.  Mary Anne graduated from Guymon High School in 1969 and attended Oklahoma State University until December 1970.  

Mary Anne was united in marriage to Joe Larry Mayer on July 10, 1971, in Guymon, Oklahoma.  They had three children, Katherine Christine, Margery Angela, and Joe Paul, whom they raised on the Anchor D Ranch west of Guymon.  Joe and Mary Anne shared 46 years of marriage before Joe’s death on May 27, 2018.

Mary Anne joked that she went to college to get her “Mrs.” degree and she was most in her element as a devoted wife and mother.  She was a loving and engaged parent to her three children, spending countless hours volunteering at their schools and in support of their activities.  She was a natural mother hen and was constantly adding to her brood; many friends and relatives considered her a second mother and credit her with supporting them through important chapters in their lives.  She was a devoted grandmother, often joking that grandchildren were her reward for not killing her own children.  She doted on her grandchildren, was incredibly proud of their accomplishments, and cherished the time she spent with them.  She loved mentoring young mothers and was never happier than when holding a baby.

Mary Anne was a gifted quilter and a long-time member and co-founder of the Panhandle Piecers Quilting Club.   She had a keen interest in genealogy and spent many years researching her family history.  She was a charter member of the Beaver River Genealogical and Historical Society and worked to create reference books for many local cemeteries.  She was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Her parents, Jim and Ardyth Atkins, and her husband, Joe Mayer, preceded her in death.

Mary Anne is survived by her brother, John Atkins, and her children, Katherine Mayer Christensen and husband Laurits of Evergreen, CO, Margery Angela Rice and husband Chad of Guymon, OK, and Joe Paul Mayer and wife Paige of Guymon, OK; and her grandchildren, Anna, Rachel, and Sarah Christensen, Eric and Gunnar Rice, Shadi Nettles, Seth Mayer, and Paislee Boles.  She is also survived by her aunt, Linda Holt of Austin, TX; her uncle, Blaine Skewes of El Dorado, KS; her mother-in-law, Anna Frances (Witt) Mayer; her sisters- and brothers-in law, Roger and Jane Skelton of Texhoma, OK, and Jim and Dallas Mayer of Hooker, OK; and seven nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be at Henson-Novak Funeral Home, 501 NW Fifth Street, Guymon, OK, on Friday, November 2, from 5-7 p.m.

Mary Anne’s life will be celebrated on Saturday, November 3, at 2 p.m. with a memorial service at the Guymon Church of the Nazarene with Pastor Craig Sheppard officiating.   Interment will follow in Elmhurst Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Heritage Community to fund automatic doors for the assisted living and nursing home facility that provided her with such loving care.  Donations may be sent in care of Henson-Novak Funeral Directors, P.O. Box 1306, Guymon, OK, 73942.  Friends may sign the online guest book and send condolences at www.hensonnovak.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Anne Mayer, please visit our floral store.