Mary Ruth Dawson

Funeral service for Mary Ruth Dawson will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 15, 2016 at the Chelsea Assembly of God Church. Pastor Allen Dunn will officiate. Burial will follow at Nowata Memorial Cemetery under the direction of the Chelsea Funeral Home & Cremation Service.

Mary passed away on Friday June 10, 2016 at her home in Chelsea at the age of 75.

The daughter of Perry Walker and Edith Merriott Combs was born December 21, 1940 in Chelsea. As a young girl she began attending Chelsea schools. Then at the age of 12 Mary and her family moved to Lawton. However after 4 years in Lawton her family moved back to Chelsea. There she would finish high school graduating in the class of 1958. Wanting to continue her education Mary attended Draughon Business College. Upon graduating she took a position at Oral Roberts University. It was also around this time that she became reacquainted with Leon Dawson a fellow Chelsea classmate. He was home on leave from the Navy visiting his family. The two kept in touch over the next few months, as Leon was attending school in Memphis. Then one weekend Mary went to Memphis to visit Leon, and became engaged. They would marry on May 22, 1959 in Chelsea. They would made their home in Washington State until Leon was sent overseas. Mary then returned home, and stayed with her mother. Upon Leon's return, the couple stayed in Washington for a short time before returning to Chelsea for good.

Mary then began a new chapter in her life. She began her favorite role as a full time homemaker. This allowed her to be very active in the PTA, volunteer as a home room mother, and teach Sunday School. This not only benefited her children, but many kids around Chelsea. It was common to have many of her children's friends over, especially around dinner.

In her spare time Mary loved reading, traveling to places such as Florida and Louisiana. When she was young she also enjoyed being a part of the Eastern Stars. However the love of her family and friends was her greatest enjoyment, as was her black lab Satchmo.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Perry and Edith Combs, and brother, Jim Combs and grandchild, Collin Gioga.

Survivors include her husband Leon of the home; children, Charles Dawson and wife Trina of Broken Arrow, and Suzanne Coughran and husband Sam; grandchildren, Christopher Coughran, and Erin Acero, 5 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Judy Combs of Chelsea, and numerous extended family.