Mary Elizabeth Work

MARY ELIZABETH DUNCAN WORK Mary Elizabeth Duncan Work died surrounded by her children on January 24, 2009, at St. Joseph Campus Mission Hospitals, in Asheville, NC. She was 88 years old and had lived for the past 6 months in Asheville to be close to her great-grandson and other family members. She had resided at Heather Glen Assisted Living facility. Mary Elizabeth was born on July 12, 1920, in Durant, OK, to parents Sally and Odell Carr Duncan. She graduated from Durant High School and attended Southeastern Oklahoma State Teachers College, in Durant. She was an active member of the Christian Church. After working briefly for a local bank, she married Lt. Moorman Robertson Work, Sr., in April, 1943 in Durant. Her first son, Moorman Robertson Work, Jr., was born in July, 1944 and her second son, James Duncan Work, in May, 1948. Mary Elizabeth lived in Oklahoma in Okmulgee, Durant, Enid, Perry and Edmond; in Kansas, in Topeka; and in Texas, in San Antonio and Houston. She helped her husband, then a church pastor, lead and care for the Christian Church of Topeka and later for the Christian Church of Perry. After her husband retired from the ministry, the couple lived in Durant and then moved to the Oklahoma Christian Home in Edmond, OK. Mary Elizabeth was an accomplished water color painter and produced many beautiful paintings that are displayed around the country. Her most recent exhibit was at Heather Glen. Mary Elizabeth had three grandsons, Benjamin, Christopher and Matthew, and one great-grandson, Phoenix Orion. In her 80s Mary Elizabeth had a lively interest in using email, digital photography, regular spiritual study and holistic health practices and often displayed a wry sense of humor. She loved to visit New York and Washington, D.C. where her sons lived. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother, Odell, sister, Laura Louise, and daughter-in-law, Mary. Mary Elizabeth is survived by her two sons; two daughters-in-law, Lisa Lindberg and Bonnie Myotai Treace; three grandsons; granddaughter-in-law, Jennifer; a great grandson; sister-in-law Hiahwahnah; nephews, nieces and cousins. A loving daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend of many, she will be greatly missed by those who love her. Memorial services were held on January 27 at 2:00 p.m. in the Jubilee Celebration Hall in downtown Asheville, and later in Edmond and Durant, Oklahoma.