Mary Ila Elkins

Mary Ila Elkins (Grammy to many) was born November 10, 1920 in Dewitt County, Texas. She died quietly Tuesday, November 10, 2015 on her 95th birthday. She was surrounded by loved ones, who three hours earlier had sung “Happy Birthday” to her.

The fourth child and second daughter of Sterling G. and Bettie Stevens was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Bruce R. Elkins, grandson Kyle Stevens, parents, six brothers and two sisters. Ila married Bruce in 1941 before making their home in Midwest City in 1952.

She was a Sooner fan before it was trendy for girls to like football, a gardener with no equal, and maker of the greatest potato salad ever devised. Red was her favorite color. Christian faith was central to her life and is reflected in her legacy as a charter member of Midwest Boulevard Christian Church. Her chocolate-chip cookies (best when frozen) were famous across two continents, having delighted soldiers serving overseas with her grandson, as well as anyone in America with the good fortune to partake. However, perhaps her most loved cookies (peanut butter cookies with Hershey’s Kisses) came every Valentine’s Day, a tradition continued by her grandchildren. She is survived by daughters Janice Arrowood and husband Terry of Norman, Carol Chilton and husband Steve of Midwest City, son Phil Elkins and wife Debbie of Simpsonville, South Carolina, and son Steve Elkins of Los Angeles, California, as well as 9 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Please make memorial gifts to Positive Tomorrows, P.O. Box 61190, Oklahoma City, OK 73146, (405) 556-5082.