Mary Virginia Orman

Born February 11, 1927, to Curtis Leonard and Pauline Landreth Leonard in Galax, Virginia. Galax was a factory town in the Blue Ridge mountains, home to Vaughan Furniture manufacturing. Back when real solid wood furniture was made in the USA. Mary’s father, Curtis, was foreman at the furniture factory. Her mother, Pauline, worked for the U. S. Postal Service. They had a house, a cow, chickens, hogs and a garden. During the depression, if you had a job, house, cow, chickens, hogs and a garden, you made it through OK. And they did. Mary’s family thrived during her early years, and kept others of their extended family fed and clothed. She enjoyed her years at Galax High School, playing sports and cheer leading. After she graduated high school, Mary enrolled in the Jefferson Hospital School of Nursing in Roanoke, Virginia, from which she graduated with her RN degree. But that’s not all. While pursuing her nursing studies, she met a doctor completing his residency, Forrest Orman. And they clicked.

Mary and Forrest wed in her hometown of Galax on December 6, 1947. As newlyweds, they made their home in several cities including Haynesville, Louisiana, where their son was born. From there, they moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where Forrest attended the Graduate School of Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania, then a year in Oklahoma City where Forrest served

as the chief surgical resident at the University of Oklahoma Veterans Administration Hospital. They settled in Lufkin in 1952. Forrest was the 1stboard certified surgeon in Angelina County; he practiced here until his retirement in 1983. Their 2 daughters were born in Lufkin.

Besides caring for 3 rambunctious children, Mary involved herself with the growing Lufkin community. Her death marks the demise of the last living charter member of the Service League (now Junior League of Lufkin). She served as president of Angelina County Medical Auxiliary and president of the little club that could: The Community Concert. When Lufkin was a town of about 18,000 population, The Community Concert organization, punching way

above its weight, brought internationally renowned performers to the stage at Lufkin High School auditorium, such as opera soprano Roberta Peters, Boston Philharmonic, and Bolshoi Ballet, to name a few. When Mary’s children left home for college, they pleasantly discovered that their cultural exposure to the performing arts surpassed that of most of their classmates who hailed from the big cities.

In another place and time, Mary would have been acknowledged as a master chef. Her scratch cooking covered all the bases from comfort to exotic, foreign and domestic. In the sphere in which she worked her kitchen magic, her beneficiaries definitely knew they were experiencing the extraordinary. Rare in the world, but not at Mary’s table.

The only thing Forrest loved more than the field of medicine was fishing. After his retirement, the Orman’s moved to Rockport, Texas where he threw himself into the tasks of finding them, catching them and eating them. Mary was a willing fishing associate and, of course, boss of the cooking component. They spent 16 cherished years there before returning in 2005 to Lufkin and the comfort of many longtime friendships. While the number of those friends

sadly dwindled over the years, Mary was conscientious to maintain

relationships and open her heart to new ones. She lost Forrest in 2008. Somewhat just by enduring and outlasting, she attracted ‘surrogate children’ who ‘reverse adopted’ her. Her precious Pinecrest neighbors kept an eye on the old gal even at risk of bumping up against her stubborn independence. Good people seemed to turn up around Mary whenever they were needed. You know who you are, and the family thanks you, more than can be put in words.

In appreciation of Angelina College and their chosen fields, Mary and Forrest funded a scholarship endowment at the college for students pursuing education toward health careers.

Mary was predeceased by her parents, brothers Joseph and James, her husband of 60 years, Dr. Forrest Orman, her daughter, Laura Orman Clader, and son, Douglas Orman. She is survived by her daughter, Pat Orman, daughter-in-law Debbie Orman, son-in-law John Clader (Gamble), grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A celebration of Mary’s life will be held at a time and place to be announced.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to the Humane Society of Angelina County or charity of your choice.