Mary Branson
1927-2018
Mary Esther Branson was born on September 1, 1927 to Alvin and Beulah Redd in Hutchinson, Kansas. She passed peacefully on June 26, 2018 surrounded by family. She was raised in Kansas, Oklahoma, and California. Mary's grandmother was her mentor and the greatest influence in her life.
Mary had four children – Celia Woodruff, Teddy Burch, Randy Burch, and Suzanne Land, eleven grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren.
Mary followed her lifelong passion of public service in Kansas, Washington D.C. and Oklahoma. During her 25 years of federal service, Mary achieved a degree in International Studies and served as an administrator in Congressional and Senate staffs, Senator Al Gore's Presidential campaign, and in the Clinton administration in the White House. She retired from the federal government in 1994. After her retirement, Mary was proudly involved with the Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislature and loved spending time with her family.
Mary was a woman of many hobbies. She enjoyed playing games such as Scrabble and Yahtzee with her kids and grandkids, but also loved a good crossword puzzle or game of Solitaire. She was a voracious reader of all genres and a huge sports fan. You would often find her cheering on one of her teams or watching golf. Mary had a love and passion for painting and the arts, especially being part of a church choir. We also can't forget her love of coffee and the numerous cups of coffee that were shared.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin and Beulah Redd, her brothers Dayul and Charles Redd, and son Teddy Burch. She was survived by sisters Glenda Lighty and husband Paul, and Ruth (Marlene) Gordon, brothers Jerry Redd and wife Diane, and William Redd, her daughter Celia Woodruff, son Randy Burch and wife Paula, daughter Suzanne Land and husband Sam, grandchildren Carin DeClute and husband Ron, James Woodruff and wife Heather, Cathy Heinz and husband Jason, Jon Woodruff, Christina Fritz and husband Sean, Dr. Scott Reinecke and wife Karrie, Charlotte Vanover, Sara White and husband Brian, Rachel Hays, Kari Baker, Lori Land, and great-grandchildren Madison and Veronica DeClute, Kylee, Autumn, and Violet Woodruff, Dallas and Cate Heinz, Izabella, Mackenzie, and Lucian Fritz, Rylee and Reese Reinecke, Madelyn and Gracie Vanover, Peyton White, and Ayden Nichols.
Visitation will be at Matthews Funeral Home at 601 S. Kelly on June 29 from 2-8 pm but family will be present from 4-6 pm. She will be buried at IOOF Cemetery in Norman, Oklahoma on June 30 at 10:00 a.m. She is loved by many and will be greatly missed.