Mary Lillian (Hicks) Chase, 85, passed away at her home in Tahlequah, on Friday, March 09, 2018. She was born in Tahlequah on October 07, 1932, to George Earl Hicks and Grace Marie (Witt) Hicks. Mary was also welcomed into the family by her brother George Earl (Junior) Hicks, Jr. who looked after his baby sister his whole life.
During the first part of her education, Mary attended Etta Bend and Needmore county schools with her mother as her teacher, then graduated from Bagley High School in 1950.
Mary met Harvey Forrest Chase, Jr., who was visiting from Texas in Needmore Hollow and two weeks later on April 30, 1951, they were married in Fayetteville, Arkansas. From that point on, she called him Sonny.
Harvey and Mary lived on a farm in Needmore Hollow and made their living through dairy farming and one year received the "Young Farm Family of the Year" Award. They had many hobbies that kept them busy like square dancing (Harvey loved to sing and call the dances), bowling (Mary was the first female in Tahlequah to bowl a 600 series), floating and fishing the Illinois River and card games with friends. After fifteen years of early mornings and late evenings with the dairy, they decided to shift their focus and bought a store in Tahlequah and began Chase Hardware. They owned the store many years and after a decline in Harvey's health, they decided to retire.
Still wanting to keep busy and since the Illinois River ran right through their property, Cherokee Floats became their new business. After Sonny passed away, Mary kept busy working in the office of Sparrow Hawk Camp owned by lifetime friends, Ben, Louise and Carl George.
Mary touched many lives with her kind heart, open door, and good meals. There was always room for extra people at her table and she enjoyed a houseful of company. Mary joined the Disciples of Christ First Christian Church in 2017, and loved her church family.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey (Sonny) Forrest Chase, Jr., daughter Dawna Sue Hawkins, son Harvey Forrest (Frosty) Chase III, grandson Harley Andrew Chase, parents George Earl and Marie Hicks, Harvey's parents Harvey Sr. and Jean Chase, brothers George Earl (Junior) Hicks and Johnnie Norwood Hicks, nephew Dustin Edward Hicks, and sister-in-law Barbara Edwards.
Those left to cherish her memory include her daughter Marjie (Billy) Dowling, nieces Rachael Hicks, Sarah Hicks, and Audrah Carney, her very special niece Debby (Lloyd) Couch, son-in-law Bernie Hawkins, grandchildren Simon Chase (Libby), Josh Looney (Michelle), Adam Chase,(Megan) Kassie Glad, Bradley (Valerie) Hawkins, Brian (Jennifer) Hawkins, Brent (Holly) Hawkins; great- grandchildren Kirsten Chase (Jesus Medina),Tyler Reese, Lynlee, Tugg, and Baker Looney, Flint Hawkins, Bryson Hawkins, nephew Jahan Hicks, sister-in-law Madelon Berry of Texas, a very special (like a son) friend, Donald Ward, lifelong first cousins, Jim Powell and Gloria Cook, as well as many other relatives, friends, and loved ones.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 on Thursday, March 22, 2018, at the Tahlequah City Cemetery Pavilion.
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