Mary Ouita Samuel, a longtime resident of Durant, Oklahoma,
passed away at her home on Friday, May 26, 2023, at the age of
98.
Ouita was born at the family home on September 29, 1924, in
Kinlock, Marshall County, Oklahoma. She was the only child of
James Audrey and Iva Irene Underhill, who preceded her in
death.
Ouita grew up in Marshall County, where she graduated from
Madill High School in 1942. She went on to further her education
at Southeastern State Teachers College, what is now known as
Southeastern Oklahoma State University. She needed only a few
hours to graduate when she met the love of her life, Dean
Samuel, 43 days after he returned from WWII. They were married
on December 17, 1947, and celebrated 66 years together before
Dean, age 91, preceded her in death in 2014.
She took care of the family home and raised their three
children, James Dean, Richard Kent, and Janet Kay. She was a
faithful member of First Baptist Church in Durant. Ouita and
Dean enjoyed traveling in their younger years. She loved flowers
of all kinds, bird watching, OU football, coloring and
completing word searches.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband,
Dean Samuel, and son, Jim Samuel, and many dear friends and
family.
Those left to cherish Ouita’s (“Grandma”) memories are her son,
Richard Kent Samuel and wife Sue of The Woodlands, Texas;
daughter, Janet Kay Stafford of Madill, Oklahoma;
daughter-in-law Amber Samuel Burton of Weatherford, Oklahoma;
grandchildren, Adrienne Bozorgpor and husband, Ray of Plano,
Texas; Ryan Samuel and wife, Christy of Wylie, Texas; Kendle
Samuel of The Woodlands, Texas; Kyle Stafford and wife, Kim of
Miami, Oklahoma; Lindsey Grooms and husband, Arron of Lindsay,
Oklahoma; Olivia Abrahamson and husband, Klynt of Madill,
Oklahoma; great grandchildren Nick Tschoepe and wife, Marina of
Noble, Oklahoma; Vivienne Bozorgpor of Plano, Texas; Carson
Samuel and Riley Samuel, of Wylie, Texas; Miranda Matlock and
husband, Taylor of Bennington, Oklahoma; Emma Stafford of Miami,
Oklahoma; Lyla Grooms and Elsie Grooms of Lindsay, Oklahoma;
Parker Abrahamson of Madill, Oklahoma; and great-great
grandchild, Adeline Faye Matlock of Bennington, Oklahoma.
Family and friend’s hour to celebrate Ouita’s life will be from
5:00-7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, May 30th at the First Baptist Church
in Durant, Oklahoma (Beech Street entrance). Graveside services
will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, May 31st at Willis
Cemetery in Willis, Oklahoma.
