Mary Ellen Wanzer, (affectionately known to her friends and family as “Mert”), 82, passed away at home in Guthrie, Oklahoma on January 5, 2025. She was born on August 25, 1942 in Guthrie to Virgil Stanbrough and Ruth Eldora (Vermillion) Corcoran. Mert first met the love of her life, Ronald “Ron” Wanzer, while living as his neighbor on 9th and Noble in Guthrie. Ron and Mert attended school from elementary through high school together and then married on November 25, 1960 at the Church of God in Guthrie.
They had their one and only child, David, on April 17, 1969. You would have thought David hung the moon for his Mom. She loved being his Mom! Ron and Mert ventured off into the workforce together until Mert scaled back from full time work to care for her son until he reached his teenage years.
Mert loved cooking, animals, singing, dancing, word, and jigsaw puzzles. She also loved fishing (but not taking the fish off the hook!), her dog, Joy and all things Christmas (everything – carols, hosting a big Christmas gathering for her family, cooking, more cooking, decorating, putting up her Christmas village and attending church services), and, more than anything, Mert loved spending time with her family.
Her love, kindness, warmth, and generous spirit will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Ruth Eldora Corcoran, George Corcoran, and Virgil Stanbrough; brother, Steven Corcoran; and sister-in-law Kathy Corcoran.
Mert is survived by her husband of 64 years, Ron; her son, David Wanzer and wife, Dara; her brother, George (“Joe”) Corcoran; her brother, Art Corcoran and wife, JoAnn; her sister, Terri Long and husband, Gary; sister-in-law Karlene Corcoran; and a host of other family and friends
Funeral services for Mert were held at 10:00 A.M., Thursday, January 9, 2025 at Smith Memorial Chapel with interment following at Summit View Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association via the link below. This is my Walk to End Alzheimer’s page.
http://act.alz.org/goto/davidwanzer
If you or a loved one is struggling with this disease, please go to www.ALZ.org for helpful resources!
Friends may sign the online guestbook at www.smithgallo.com.