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Mary Ann (Schwegel) Gillett of Bartlesville, OK, passed away on January 7, 2025, at the age of 77, due to complications from ovarian cancer. She was surrounded by her loving husband and children.
Mary was born on June 19, 1947, in Alton, Illinois, as the eighth of nine children. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic Church and School and graduated from Marquette Catholic High School. In 1969, she earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in psychology from Western Illinois University. It was there she met her future husband, Jim Gillett. They married on March 27, 1971 in Alton, Illinois. After graduation, the couple moved to the Chicago area, where Mary was a social worker for the Cook County Department of Public Aid, and Jim began his career as a marketing representative for Phillips Petroleum.
In April 1974, their first child, Matthew James Gillett, was born, followed by their daughter, Kathryn Marie Gillett, in November 1975. In 1980, the family relocated to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where Jim continued his career with Phillips. Mary dedicated herself to being a stay-at-home mom until her children entered high school. She then worked as a teacher’s aide in the Bartlesville public school system and later became the director of the first daycare facility serving the Bartlesville High School public alternative education program, enabling teens parenting young children to complete their high school education.
Mary's passions included spending time with her children and granddaughters, keeping a lovely family home, organizing holiday traditions, and volunteering to help dogs and the elderly. She loved lake activities at her Grand Lake townhome with family and friends. She had a keen eye for decorating, spending countless hours reading design magazines and receiving many compliments on her beautifully decorated homes.
The holidays were a joyous time to gather. In Bartlesville, the Thanksgiving meal was shared with close friends and neighbors. Before her parents died, the Schwegel family would gather to welcome Santa Claus at their historic home in Alton; this annual tradition included the nine siblings and their children. In later years, when Mary hosted her own celebration, elaborate plans for the annual event began months before December 25th . Even during the final stages of her illness, she decorated the house, shopped and wrapped gifts for family and friends, baked her delicious crispy sugar cookies and made her famous homemade meatballs and sauce, a unique recipe from her grandmother.
Mary also devoted time to her community. An avid dog lover, Mary previously served on the board of the Washington County SPCA, sometimes bringing home the dogs that looked the saddest and needed the most care. Her favorite dog was Sadie. Additionally, she volunteered as a driver at Elder Care, helping older folks with their daily errands. She often remarked that these individuals reminded her of her mother and aunts.
Mary Ann Gillett’s life was filled with love, compassion and dedication to her family and community. She will be deeply missed. Mary is survived by her loving husband, Jim; their two children, Matt (Sarah Jane) Gillett and Katie (Mike) Dodd; three brothers, Jim (Sue) Schwegel, John (Margaret) Schwegel and Edward Schwegel; one sister, Barb Fallon; two granddaughters, Natalie and Sophia Gillett; and a host of other family and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Peter Paul Schwegel and Louise Julia Schwegel; her three brothers, Bud, Pete and Tom Schwegel; her sister, Carolyn Dooley; and sister and brother in laws, Phyllis, Maggie, Jeanne, and Carla Schwegel and Terry Dooley.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, January 15th, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Davis Family Funeral Home and Crematory – Walker Brown Chapel, 4201 Nowata Road in Bartlesville, followed by a Rosary service at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, January 16th at 10:00 a.m. at St. John Before the Latin Gate Catholic Church, 715 S. Johnstone Avenue in Bartlesville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Washington County SPCA, 16620 State Highway 123, Bartlesville, Oklahoma 74006 (www.wcspca.org).
Services are under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home and Crematory – Walker Brown Chapel. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.
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