On 22nd June 2010, Mary Virginia Choctaw Simpson White passed away at OU medical center surrounded by family and friends. Mary is preceded in death by Kenneth Payne Simpson and Dorothy June Simpson. She is survived by her husband Carl White, children Rylan, Gretchen, Jordy, Lisa and Luca and her 2 grandchildren Giorgia Elaine and Matteo Alexander, also her 2 brothers Richard K and Karen Simpson and Lawrence W and Stefanie Simpson of Enid and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Mary was born in Enid, February 27th 1944 to Kenneth and Dorothy Simpson. Mary being a long-term resident of Enid and Major County lived a full and interesting life. She attended school in Enid and graduated from Phillips University with a BA in Journalism. She was involved in education at several levels, from the care and teaching of children at the Enid state school, to the children on the Navaho reservation in Farmington New Mexico. She was also one of the original Snow Whites in Disneyland California and continued on working for Walt Disney. She had a strong passion for film making having worked for the Australian film commission for Miraga films and Caltech. After her marriage to Carl she was involved in raising, training and breeding pure bred dogs. She was also breed judge for the AKC and worked as liaison between the AKC (American Kennel Club) and ADRK (Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler Club). For the last 26 years, she was the principal architect of Island Guest Ranch in Major County. Mary was always involved in the travel business having travelled the world herself. She owned and operated a travel company called Byways tours, taking many trips across Western Europe. She also took enormous pleasure in bringing people to the state of Oklahoma and worked tirelessly to that end. Mary's passion continued with working closely within the film industry for promoting Oklahoma through documentaries, advertisements and films into the state.
Mary was a loving mother to not only her own children but to many people. She was kind, compassionate, vivacious individual who carried herself with dignity and grace in the face of great adversity and illness. She will always be Miss Mary to the many young people whose life’s she touched. Mary's untimely and early demise has left a hole in her family’s hearts; she will be greatly missed by all.
Memorials may be made through the funeral home for Major County Relay for Life.
Viewing is Friday June 25th 2010 from 5.30-7.30pm at Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home, Enid, Oklahoma.
Funeral service will be held at St.Francis Xavier in Enid at 2pm Saturday, June 26, 2010. Then a burial service at the Island Ranch, Ames, Oklahoma. All friends and family are invited to attend both ceremonies. There will be a celebration of Mary's life which will be held at the ranch after the ceremony.