Obit of Lemon, Mary Lou (Smith) - Oklahoma County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 10 Jul 2005 Return to Oklahoma County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/oklahoma/oklahoma.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== Lemon, Mary Lou (Smith) Mary Lou (Smith) Lemon, 73, was born in Dewey, Oklahoma, on November 23, 1929, and died Sunday, December 22, 2002, at her home in Oklahoma City, after a 20 month bout with cancer. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2003, at 2:00 p.m. at her church, the Mayflower Congregational Church (United Church of Christ), 3901 NW 63rd Street in Oklahoma City. Dr. Robin Meyers and John Lemon Sellers will officiate. Mary Lou was a very private person and many of her friends and loved ones were unaware of her illness or its recent resurgence. She died two days following the 52nd anniversary of her marriage to Bob Lemon. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jim and Grace Smith, of Booker, Texas. Sensitive to the needs of people, Mary Lou used many of her talents and resources throughout her adult life to assist individuals who had inadequate living conditions or who had been pushed out to life's fringes. She often arranged for otherwise unobtainable medical services, frequently provided a place to live, and always offered her friendship. A Matthew 25 Christian with an ecumenical spirit, she especially valued the efforts of Mayflower Congregational Church's 363 Group, which recognizes that people need help more than just at Thanksgiving and Christmas. She believed her faith did not require abandoning common sense, reason, and rational thought when entering a house of worship. An unabashed liberal Democrat, Mary Lou believed all people are entitled to both equal protection under the law and universal respect as children of God particularly regarding the current controversy surrounding sexual orientation. She challenged her own and other faith congregations to become "open and affirming" of GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered) people and to approve same-sex unions. It became her life mission to understand and openly confront bigotry and prejudice in all of its many different forms. After attending college at Panhandle A&M at Goodwell, Oklahoma, Mary Lou worked at the Booker News and the Booker Equity. During their 48 years in Perryton, she worked with Bob in his law firm, title abstract offices, and other businesses. She was an active member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and was an associate member of National City Christian Church in Washington, D.C. She served as a volunteer at the hospital, Red Cross, and Senior Village, and was chosen by the Kiwanis Club as Perryton's Workhorse of the Year. She was the first woman to serve as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the First Christian Church, serving two consecutive terms. She was a charter member of the local Toastmasters Club. When Bob lost his medical certificate as a private pilot, Mary Lou earned her pilot's license and flew him on business and social flights for nearly two decades. Perhaps her most memorable flight, which she kept secret from Bob and her family members for years, was a quick round-trip with her close friend Rozelle Wilson from Perryton to Colorado Springs for a glass of ale at the Broadmoor Hotel's world famous Golden Bee pub. She accompanied her family and church youth groups on numerous ski trips to Colorado and New Mexico. Mary Lou and Bob were longtime season ticket holders for Oklahoma State University football and basketball, and attended many Cowboy baseball games and wrestling matches as well. An accomplished pianist, she took great pleasure attending the Van Cliburn competition at Texas Christian University with her longtime mentor and dear friend, the late Marjorie Urban. Mary Lou is survived by: her husband, Bob Lemon; her brother, Jimmy Smith of Perryton, Texas; her children: Del and his wife Leslie (Holman) Lemon of Austin, Texas; Jim and his wife Anna (Cavicchia) Lemon of Vienna, Virginia and Cascade, Maryland, and their children Michael and Jackie; Chrys Lemon of Arlington, Virginia; Chrys" twin sister Robyn and her husband John Lemon Sellers of Enid, and their children Garry Rogers of Enid, Jeny (Rogers) Johnson and husband Dewayne of Moore, Oklahoma, Julia Rogers and husband Jair Isaac of Charlotte, North Carolina, Diana Rogers of Enid, Oklahoma and the University of Oklahoma at Norman, Kevin Rogers of Enid, and Ochirkhu Dorjisurung of Oklahoma City; an adopted son Eli "Moque" Grayson, Jr., of West Hollywood, California; her great grandchildren Shakira Johnson and J'menii Qiana Isaac; her sisters-in-law, Helaine Lemon of Tulsa, and Shirley Smith of Perryton, Texas; and her nephews Richard Smith of Rohnert Park, California, Jeff Smith of Perryton, Texas, Marcus Lemon of Tulsa, and Martin Lemon of Oak Park, Illinois. Mary Lou deeply appreciated the people who welcomed her and Bob to the Oklahoma City community and the support they received as Bob campaigned for the Oklahoma legislature. In keeping with her wishes, her body was donated to science to assist students in academic study and research. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mary Lou's favorite organizations: Human Rights Campaign Foundation, 919 18th Street N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20006; Cimarron Alliance Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 18794, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73154; and GLAD (Gay, Lesbian, & Affirming Disciples), P.O. Box 44400, Indianapolis, Indiana 46244-0400. CREMATION SOCIETY 1145 W. Britton Rd. 843-3345 Published in the Oklahoman from 12/25/2002 - 12/29/2002. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Oklahoma County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/oklahoma/oklahoma.html