Gerald Mark Ekiss
Born: August 01, 1921
Died: October 04, 2012
Gerald Mark Ekiss was born in Guthrie, OK on August 1, 1921, and died October 4, 2012. Mark graduated from Guthrie High School in 1940. Mark’s college was interrupted by Pearl Harbor. He enlisted in the US Navy, serving from 1941-1946. In 1944, Mark married his high school sweetheart, Audine Snyder.
Following his Navy service, Mark went to Oklahoma University, and became a licensed pharmacist. During the Korean War, he was called back into service for 2 years. Mark returned to Guthrie to work. In 1953, he purchased a downtown drug store. He and Audine had 4 children.
During Mark’s working years, he was a 33rd degree Mason, was active in Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, Guthrie School Board, Logan Hospital Board, Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy, the Presbyterian Church as an Elder and Sunday school teacher, and was instrumental in the formation of the Oklahoma Frontier Drugstore Museum in Guthrie.
After retiring in 1992, Mark became more active in church and community work, becoming the volunteer curator at the museum, a position he held until age 87. Mark has received many honors from the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy. In 1997, he received the Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmacist of the Year Award. After his wife’s death in 1998, Mark spent almost full time in the Drugstore Museum, church and Masonic work. Mark helped initiate the Apothecary Garden, which opened in 2006, and provides a beautiful downtown garden area.
Mark was raised by his mother, Eva Lee Ekiss and was preceded in death by her and by his father, Lester Ekiss; his wife, Audine Ekiss; 3 brothers, Don Ekiss, Dale Ekiss and Curtis Ekiss; and a daughter, Mary Beth Coleman. He is survived by son, Kevin Ekiss, and daughters Pamela Ekiss and Dr. Gayle Burns and husband Charles Burns, and special friend, Earleen Machtolff. His grandchildren are Michael Ekiss, Lauren Blount, Dallas Gavronsky, Laine Bradshaw, Teresa Stott, Greg Burns, Rachel Fleming, and Emily Schuster. Great-grandchildren are Carson Bradshaw, Stormi Stott, Chance Morgan, Jacob Burns, Dillon Voit, Olivia Schuster, Cai Fleming, Cecile Fleming, Taylor Blount, and Brooke Blount. Mark is also survived by sisters-in-law Lee Gummow and husband Don and Wanda Snyder.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Oklahoma Frontier Drugstore Museum, 214 W. Oklahoma, Guthrie, OK 73044.
Graveside services will be held at 1:15 p.m., Wednesday, October 10, 2012 at Summit View Cemetery, Guthrie. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. at First United Presbyterian Church. Services are under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, Guthrie.
Visitation will be Tuesday, 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
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