Mary Nell Lancaster

Mary’s family moved to Oklahoma in 1966, where she attended school, graduating from John Marshall High School in 1973. While in high school Mary completed cosmetology courses and became a licensed beautician, working with her Aunt Hilda at Village View Beauty Salon. In 1973 Mary enrolled at Central State University, where she met her future husband John Lancaster. They were wed in 1975 and from this union they had two children, Sharon Ashley and Rachel Melissa.

Mary’s dedication to her family and their future was evident in her efforts to advance her career. In 1979, Mary went back to school to obtain a nursing degree from OSU. While completing the courses for her degree, Mary skillfully juggled the demands of her current job as well as those of her growing family. Mary worked in a variety of departments at Baptist Hospital from 1982 until 2005, most notably in the neonatal unit. In her last assignment at Baptist she served as the liver transplant coordinator. After leaving Baptist, she held positions in several metro area hospitals before retiring in 2009. In 2010 Mary was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and spent the last few years residing in a local memory care facility.

Her father, William G. Martin and her mother, Barbara Nell Martin precede her in death.

She is survived by her daughter Ashley Downing (Shawn) of Edmond, daughter Rachel McGuigan (Stefan) of Oklahoma City, grandchildren Jonathan and Caitlin Downing and Peyton and Bradley (Bam) McGuigan, and brother John W. Martin (Cheryl), and three nieces and nephews.

Mary is lovingly remembered for her indomitable spirit, her feisty nature, and her quick wit; so the family requests that in lieu of flowers, friends make a donation to The Alzheimer’s Association in memory of Mary N. Lancaster.