Mary Agnes Ferris died peacefully, June 19, 2022. Mary Agnes was born November 12, 1931, in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, to Anthony and Julia Erman, both first generation Americans from Austria. She was raised in Okmulgee and attended St. Anthony High School, where, among many club roles and activities, she was chosen as an Oklahoma Delegate for the Girls State Program of the American Legion Auxiliary. She continued to be involved with Girls State and the American Legion Auxiliary for many years. Following graduation from St. Anthony in 1949, she attended Benedictine Heights College in Guthrie. It was there, at a Sadie Hawkins Dance, that she met a local Guthrie boy, Robert “Bob” Francis Ferris. On their first date, Bob or “Punkin (Punk)” as he was known to her, apparently couldn’t talk about any other subject but his own mother as he was worried about her. As Mary Agnes later recalled, that’s when she knew he was the one. A year later, on November 11, 1950, they were wed at Camp Polk in Louisiana where Bob was stationed prior to joining the 45th Division in Japan. Their first child, Bobby, was born in 1951, while Bob was still in service overseas. With the birth of their daughter Cathy, in 1953, their family was complete. Mary Agnes devoted herself to making a home, whether it be serving as den mother, home room mother, or simply having an open door for any neighbor kids that may wonder over. Over the years, Mary Agnes worked in many fields, but her passion was interior design. To this end, she attended the University of Central Oklahoma and received a bachelor’s degree in Science and Home Economics and Interior Design in 1978. Her creativity was boundless, from making jewelry out of sterling silver dinner utensils to bringing home “projects” that only she could envision before their final completion. She never met a room she could not rearrange or a piece of furniture she didn’t have a “perfect place” for. She was “grandma” to three grandchildren and “ga-ga” to six great grandchildren. Her grandchildren became the center of her life in later years, and all share treasured memories of summers spent in Guthrie with drive-in movies, 89ers parades, shows at the Pollard Theater and countless other times too numerous to recount. Mary Agnes spent the last few years of her life in Colorado to be near her daughter, granddaughter and family, but her heart remained in Guthrie.
She was a member of St. Mary’s Church, Catholic Daughters, Jonquil Garden Club and numerous other local organizations.
Mary Agnes is survived by her son Bobby Ferris of Edmond, daughter Cathy Klas of Colorado, and grandchildren Julia (Adam) Rush of Longmont, Colorado, Michael (Adriana) Klas of Danville, California, and Robbie Klas of Chicago, Illinois, and six great-grandchildren, and many dear friends whom she cherished.
She was proceeded in death by her husband of 54 years, Bob Ferris, her parents, sisters Elizabeth and Mildred and son-in-law Ron Klas.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 29, 2022 from 4:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. at Smith-Gallo Funeral Home.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 A.M., Thursday, June 30, 2022 at St. Mary Catholic Church. Rev. Fr. James Andrew Wickersham will officiate. Interment will follow at Summit View Cemetery under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home in Guthrie.
Memorial donations in her name may be made to the Guthrie Educational Foundation, P.O. Box 371, Guthrie, OK 73044. Further information available at guthrieps.net. Condolences and memories can be shared at www.smithgallo.com.