Services for Mary Jo Green, 85, of Ada are 10:00 a.m. Friday at the Chickasaw Nation Community Center in Ada. Wayne Edgar and Don Parr will officiate. Burial will follow at East Hill Cemetery at Roff. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Thursday at Criswell Funeral Home.
Mary Jo Thomas Green was born April 18, 1934, to John Thomas and Julia E. Kennedy Thomas in the Fitzhugh area.
She passed from this life at her home on Sunday, July 28, 2019, in the early morning hours after a lengthy battle with many frailties. She is survived by her daughter, Melissa Whipple and husband, Craig Whipple of Ada; granddaughter, Mekeisha Factor and husband, Terry Factor of Ada; granddaughter, Destiny Green of Tulsa; one grandson, Judd Green of Ada, and a host of nieces and nephews, as well as her very special caregiver and friend, Missy Oxford. Mary Jo married J. L. Green on November 17, 1951. Preceding her in death are her parents; her husband; one son, Jess Green; one brother, Jonce Thomas; five sisters, Beulah Mae McGalliard, Jewel Fields, Edna Hernandez, Johnnie Cox and Betty Lionberger.
Mary Jo was a child of God and an active member of the Sunshine Missionary Baptist Church since the early 1950s. She taught Sunday School for many years, and she taught her children and grandchildren the importance of giving their life to Christ. She graduated from Fitzhugh High School and attended East Central University for one semester.
Mary Jo was elected to the Chickasaw Nation Tribal Legislature in 1998 and served their until she retired in 2016. Prior to her election as a legislator, she served the Nation as an employee for almost 22 years. She received many awards during her working years at the Chickasaw Nation: 1986 Outstanding Employee in the State of Aging Network, 1993 Professional of the Year in the field of Aging, 1994 Indian Health Service Director’s Award; 1995 Betsy D. Smith Award for her dedication in providing services to older Americans; AARP Outstanding Indian Elder Trailblazer Award in 2016; and she was inducted into the Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame in 2017. Mary Jo devoted her life to being a friend to the elderly. She was a band leader for 25 years for a senior citizen’s band called The Chickasaw Cats. They started out as a kitchen band and later developed into a well accomplished band with a piano accompanist. Eventually they became a country music band with sounds of guitar, banjo, drums, fiddle, mandolin, French harp and even pot lids, kazoos and bells with whistles. They played at nursing homes, senior citizens’ sites, and even played twice in Tennessee, once at the famous Opryland Hotel at a national conference, and later at the Opryland theme park. It was in those years of playing at nursing homes in over four counties that Mary Jo became devoted to regularly visiting “her people” in nursing homes. It was a priority to her and she became a regular visitor to the elders and even became known as the “Banana Lady” because she always took bananas when she made her visits. She also became part of a group called “Caring Hearts Volunteers” and participated in their birthday gift program for those elders. Mary Jo was so well known for her kindness and selfless, caring abilities.
Mary Jo was a member of the Ada Business & Professional Women’s Club of Ada, where she was named Woman of the Year in 2012. She was also a past president of the Ada club, and a former State of Oklahoma B&PW District Director. She was a life member of the Order of the Eastern Star, a former Worthy Matron of the Roff Order of the Eastern Star, a former Silver Haired Legislator and a former life member of that organization. She was a past member of the Soda Senior Advisory Board. She and her husband, J. L., were Farm Bureau Farm Family of the Year in 1989.
Pall bearers are: Toby Perkins, Eddie Easterling, Ronnie Randolph, Ron Anderson, Carl Rutledge, and Gerald McAlister. Honorary bearers are: Governor Bill Anoatubby, Lt. Governor Jefferson Keel, the Chickasaw Tribal Legislators, Bill Lance, David Hatton, Steve Gregory, Larry Heard, and Robert Cheadle. Mary Jo will truly be missed by all.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada
