Enid, OK — Funeral service for Mary Jean (Slack) Springer will be 2 p.m. today, Nov. 14, 2009, at Carmen Christian Church with Rev. Kirk Board and Rev. Susan Grove officiating. Interment will be in Springer Family Cemetery under the direction of Wentworth Mortuary, LLC.

Mary Jean Springer, daughter of the late William David and Beaulah Bee (Scott) Slack, was born Jan. 30, 1931, at the family home in Carmen, Okla., and departed this life Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009, in Enid, Okla., with loving family members by her side.

Mary Jean was a lifelong resident of Carmen, graduating from Carmen High School as valedictorian in 1949.

Mary Jean was united in marriage to the love of her life, Jack Dean Springer, on Oct. 16, 1949, moving to the family farm east of Carmen. “Pete,” as she was affectionately known, became a good farm wife who grew to love the peace and tranquility of the country.

Blessed with four children, Vicky, Kirk, Janet and Kelly, she was a busy mother, involved in their many activities and life on the farm. Always encouraging and supportive, she indulged her children by allowing them to bring any animal they could catch and carry home to live on the farm, resulting in a “wild” menagerie at times.

She worked as a secretary at Helena School for Boys in Helena, Okla., and the Department of Corrections at James Crabtree Correctional Center, from which she retired in 1984.

Mary Jean and Jack enjoyed traveling to the Oregon coast, where many hours were spent beach combing, rock hunting and watching the breakers crash upon the shore.

Her pleasures in life were simple, whether it be a good book and cup of tea, a New York times crossword puzzle, reading poetry and staying abreast of world news and events. After Jack’s death in 1999, she remained on the farm until failing health made it necessary to move to Greenbrier Village in Enid in 2008.

She is survived by her children, Vicky Olson of Bixby, Okla., Kirk Springer of Lawton, Okla., Kelly Springer of Okeene, Okla., and Janet Sheik of Carmen, Okla.; seven grandchildren; one great-grandson; one sister, Betty Fidler of Wichita, Kan.; her brother, John D. Slack of Arlington, Texas; and other relatives and friends.

For those who wish, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made through the funeral home to Carmen Christian Church, Carmen First Responders or St. Jude’s Childrens’ Hospital.

(Paid Obit 11-14-1)