Mary Dawn (Engelking) Cline


Mary Dawn Cline, native Newkirk resident, died Thursday morning, January 30, 2025, in Ponca City. She was 94.

The daughter of Herman George Engelking and Sophia Marguerite Edwards Engelking, Mary Dawn was born on December 20, 1930, in Newkirk, Oklahoma. She was the only daughter with eight brothers.

She attended rural schools near Newkirk, including Sweetwater and Deer Creek, graduating from Newkirk High School in 1948. She subsequently earned credit to support her career at Cameron University in Lawton and Murray State College in Tishomingo.

Mary Dawn was married to Harold Sherman Cline, Jr. They had four children, Steven, Sheryl, Dana and Jeffrey. The family lived near Sweetwater school for nine years before moving into Newkirk.

Known as Mary, she started her career in the U.S. Civil Service in 1966, first working for the Bureau of Sports Fisheries and Wildlife at the Treasure Lake Job Corps. She transferred to the Division of Refuges at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, where she worked as an administrative assistant. At the Wichitas, a refuge for longhorn cattle, buffalo, and elk, Mary loved giving tours to her parents and relatives. She continued to advance in the government service levels and transferred to the Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge. Her love of birds was apparent as she spoke of the thousands of Canada and snow geese that wintered there, as well as wood ducks, white pelicans, and bald eagles that could be spotted there. Her last position with the U.S. Government was with the Corps of Engineers at the Kaw Lake Project. Mary loved working for the U.S. Government and earned the distinction of “Federal Woman of the Year for the Tulsa District" with the Corps of Engineers, given for her work in fostering opportunities for federal women employees and motivating employees in developing their goals in government careers.

Mary Dawn was active in her communities. She served as president of the Pioneer Woman Business and Professional Women in Ponca City, attending state conferences and regional board meetings, and recruiting other women to civic engagement. In the United Methodist Women, she also served as president and other leadership positions. Mary served as an election judge for Kay County elections into her eighties.

As a child, Mary Dawn longed to play the piano, sitting on the steps and pretending the step above was her piano. She bought a piano, took lessons, and played in recitals in her seventies. She enjoyed listening to her favorite artists, often singing along with Willie Nelson and Don Williams.

Mary Dawn loved playing cards, especially pitch, with her club friends. She played dominos with her dad. She collected impressionist art prints for her home. Flowers were a central part of her home decor, and roses of reds and pinks were planted in her gardens.

Family was at the core of Mary Dawn's spirit. She hosted birthday and holiday celebrations for her family, designing and hosting, (along with her brothers) the 40th, 50th, and 60th wedding anniversary celebrations for her parents. She created events to entertain her grandchildren including trips to the zoo and to Colorado, visiting the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and Will Rogers Shrine.

She drove "Mother and Dad" to Indiana when they were 77 and 78 years old, to visit his father's historic homestead, built by Mary Dawn's "Fred Grandpa" Engelking, who immigrated from Germany. She traveled to the Gulf coast and Galveston Bay with her mother and children to visit her aunt and uncle, Lois and Loyal Edwards and their families.

From her mother, Mary Dawn learned homemaking skills from the expert. She enjoyed cooking new recipes shared by her friends and those from the well-stained pages of her Fannie Farmer Cookbook. When her family was young, she canned many tomatoes, green beans, and peaches for her family of six. She was an excellent seamstress, often sewing after 9:00 p.m., stitching Easter clothes for her children, fun summer togs for her grandchildren, and pleated drapes for the dining room. She designed and made a patchwork quilt for each of her children, utilizing fabric from "Dad's" wool pants or denim from "the boys'" jeans.

Mary Dawn is survived by her brother, Charles Engelking; her daughter, Sheryl Cline Matthews; her sons, Dana Cline and Jeff Cline and partner, Joanee Haun; her grandchildren, Spencer Cline and LeighAnn, Macom Cline and Holly, Shannon North, Gann Matthews, Caitlin Matthews and partner, Jake Sabesta; great grandchildren, Courtney Pruett and family; Tanner Cline and partner, Hailey; Tate Cline and family; Sydney Houchin and family, Jett Cline, Acie Cline; Pake Shinn and family, and Cade North. Mary Dawn is survived by seven great great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman (Dutch) and Sophia Engelking; her son, Steve Cline; her great grandson, Rosin Shinn; her brothers George, Jack, Frank, Lloyd, Bob, and Rae Engelking. Ron Engelking, of Plano, TX, her youngest brother, passed away on the same date as Mary Dawn.

A funeral service to celebrate Mary Dawn will be held at the First United Methodist Church, where she was a member, 101 S. Walnut, Newkirk, Oklahoma, at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 14, 2025, with the Rev. Mark Southard officiating. Visitation is at the church from 10:00-1:30 pm on Friday, before the service. Mary Dawn will be laid to rest in the Newkirk Cemetery. Stittsworth Funeral Services, Enid, Oklahoma, is in charge of arrangements. If desired, donations can be made in honor of Mary Dawn Cline to the First United Methodist Church of Newkirk, OK.



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