Marie McWethy Keeth was born on December 26, 1902, on a farm north east of Gutherie, Oklahoma. The family soon trekked west with "two wagons and a chicken wagon" and began pioneering from a half-dugout home, five miles west of Floris, in Beaver Co., OK. Times were hard as the land was not suited to plowing but the family persevered. Primarily because of the need for schooling they returned to central Oklahoma in 1913 when Marie was ten years old.
Marie's father was William McWethy, her mother, Ethel Phenis; they had 3 girls and 1 boy, Faye, Meade, Marie, and Lunora.
Family was very important to Marie. As children they had very little in the way of worldly possessions. Toys often consisted of sticks and imagination. Love, however, was never lacking--the family worked to complete all the chores, then sat down together in the evening; often to play games.
School began for Marie, at the age of five, in a one room school house. Miss Pearl Prough, who taught the first four grades made a great impression on her young charges. Years later Marie could still quote things Miss Pearl had said. She soon enjoyed reading--a life long interest which continued until her eyesight failed in very old age. Math was never a favorite--she always allowed others to take care of the bookkeeping chores in later life.
Honesty, patience, and generosity were common practices of the McWethy family. The main reason they moved to farm in the panhandle, was due to the very benevolent nature of her father. After registering an earlier claim, he found a poor family with several children already living on it. He did not have the heart to tell them the land was his.
The three oldest children attended, and or graduated from, Gutherie High school. All 4 children went on to graduate in Stillwater from the Oklahoma Agriculture and Mechanical College, now known as Oklahoma State University.
To provide a little extra income during these Stillwater years, meals were served to some of the college students by the McWethy's. Moving to a larger house they also began taking in roomers. Jess Keeth became a regular at their family meals. Marie, graduating in 1924 taught school in Ripley for one year. Jess then graduated with an engineering degree. Marie and Jess Roe Keeth, were married on June 28, 1925. They had 3 children, Ruth, Judith and Walter. The young couple moved often, living in small towns from Stillwater to Durant as the state highways progressed south under the guidance of Jess. When Jess was appointed resident engineer in Oklahoma City, they were able to put down some roots. The family moved to Muskogee, when Jess became the City Engineer in 1948. Jess died in 1963.
The strong, loving family bonds which Marie experienced as a child, were extended to her own children and grandchildren. She enjoyed cooking and sewing for them, finding time to tend her flower and vegetable gardens as well. As the children began school, she encouraged them to broaden their education, by becoming Campfire Girls and Cub scout leader.
During World War II, she took Home nursing classes from the Red Cross. She was later able to use these skills in nursing family members, as well as many neighbors. She assisted in the final care of her father, mother, brother and sisters, as well as her daughter Ruth and son-in-law Lester Housley.
Bible class was important in Marie's life. She taught many classes through the years. Later as the children grew away from home her volunteer work centered on working with the Ladies Bible class projects, sewing, quilting, folding of bulletins, etc.
Marie died July 30, 2000 at the age of 97 years 7 months and 3 days, outliving all her siblings. She had lived life to the full and returned infinitely more to it than she ever took from it. She was a good person and will be sorely missed.
Marie's father was William McWethy, her mother, Ethel Phenis; they had 3 girls and 1 boy, Faye, Meade, Marie, and Lunora.
Family was very important to Marie. As children they had very little in the way of worldly possessions. Toys often consisted of sticks and imagination. Love, however, was never lacking--the family worked to complete all the chores, then sat down together in the evening; often to play games.
School began for Marie, at the age of five, in a one room school house. Miss Pearl Prough, who taught the first four grades made a great impression on her young charges. Years later Marie could still quote things Miss Pearl had said. She soon enjoyed reading--a life long interest which continued until her eyesight failed in very old age. Math was never a favorite--she always allowed others to take care of the bookkeeping chores in later life.
Honesty, patience, and generosity were common practices of the McWethy family. The main reason they moved to farm in the panhandle, was due to the very benevolent nature of her father. After registering an earlier claim, he found a poor family with several children already living on it. He did not have the heart to tell them the land was his.
The three oldest children attended, and or graduated from, Gutherie High school. All 4 children went on to graduate in Stillwater from the Oklahoma Agriculture and Mechanical College, now known as Oklahoma State University.
To provide a little extra income during these Stillwater years, meals were served to some of the college students by the McWethy's. Moving to a larger house they also began taking in roomers. Jess Keeth became a regular at their family meals. Marie, graduating in 1924 taught school in Ripley for one year. Jess then graduated with an engineering degree. Marie and Jess Roe Keeth, were married on June 28, 1925. They had 3 children, Ruth, Judith and Walter. The young couple moved often, living in small towns from Stillwater to Durant as the state highways progressed south under the guidance of Jess. When Jess was appointed resident engineer in Oklahoma City, they were able to put down some roots. The family moved to Muskogee, when Jess became the City Engineer in 1948. Jess died in 1963.
The strong, loving family bonds which Marie experienced as a child, were extended to her own children and grandchildren. She enjoyed cooking and sewing for them, finding time to tend her flower and vegetable gardens as well. As the children began school, she encouraged them to broaden their education, by becoming Campfire Girls and Cub scout leader.
During World War II, she took Home nursing classes from the Red Cross. She was later able to use these skills in nursing family members, as well as many neighbors. She assisted in the final care of her father, mother, brother and sisters, as well as her daughter Ruth and son-in-law Lester Housley.
Bible class was important in Marie's life. She taught many classes through the years. Later as the children grew away from home her volunteer work centered on working with the Ladies Bible class projects, sewing, quilting, folding of bulletins, etc.
Marie died July 30, 2000 at the age of 97 years 7 months and 3 days, outliving all her siblings. She had lived life to the full and returned infinitely more to it than she ever took from it. She was a good person and will be sorely missed.
Marie McWethy Keeth was born on December 26, 1902, on a farm north east of Gutherie, Oklahoma. The family soon trekked west with "two wagons and a chicken wagon" and began pioneering from a half-dugout home, five miles west of Floris, in Beaver Co., OK. Times were hard as the land was not suited to plowing but the family persevered. Primarily because of the need for schooling they returned to central Oklahoma in 1913 when Marie was ten years old.
Marie's father was William McWethy, her mother, Ethel Phenis; they had 3 girls and 1 boy, Faye, Meade, Marie, and Lunora.
Family was very important to Marie. As children they had very little in the way of worldly possessions. Toys often consisted of sticks and imagination. Love, however, was never lacking--the family worked to complete all the chores, then sat down together in the evening; often to play games.
School began for Marie, at the age of five, in a one room school house. Miss Pearl Prough, who taught the first four grades made a great impression on her young charges. Years later Marie could still quote things Miss Pearl had said. She soon enjoyed reading--a life long interest which continued until her eyesight failed in very old age. Math was never a favorite--she always allowed others to take care of the bookkeeping chores in later life.
Honesty, patience, and generosity were common practices of the McWethy family. The main reason they moved to farm in the panhandle, was due to the very benevolent nature of her father. After registering an earlier claim, he found a poor family with several children already living on it. He did not have the heart to tell them the land was his.
The three oldest children attended, and or graduated from, Gutherie High school. All 4 children went on to graduate in Stillwater from the Oklahoma Agriculture and Mechanical College, now known as Oklahoma State University.
To provide a little extra income during these Stillwater years, meals were served to some of the college students by the McWethy's. Moving to a larger house they also began taking in roomers. Jess Keeth became a regular at their family meals. Marie, graduating in 1924 taught school in Ripley for one year. Jess then graduated with an engineering degree. Marie and Jess Roe Keeth, were married on June 28, 1925. They had 3 children, Ruth, Judith and Walter. The young couple moved often, living in small towns from Stillwater to Durant as the state highways progressed south under the guidance of Jess. When Jess was appointed resident engineer in Oklahoma City, they were able to put down some roots. The family moved to Muskogee, when Jess became the City Engineer in 1948. Jess died in 1963.
The strong, loving family bonds which Marie experienced as a child, were extended to her own children and grandchildren. She enjoyed cooking and sewing for them, finding time to tend her flower and vegetable gardens as well. As the children began school, she encouraged them to broaden their education, by becoming Campfire Girls and Cub scout leader.
During World War II, she took Home nursing classes from the Red Cross. She was later able to use these skills in nursing family members, as well as many neighbors. She assisted in the final care of her father, mother, brother and sisters, as well as her daughter Ruth and son-in-law Lester Housley.
Bible class was important in Marie's life. She taught many classes through the years. Later as the children grew away from home her volunteer work centered on working with the Ladies Bible class projects, sewing, quilting, folding of bulletins, etc.
Marie died July 30, 2000 at the age of 97 years 7 months and 3 days, outliving all her siblings. She had lived life to the full and returned infinitely more to it than she ever took from it. She was a good person and will be sorely missed.
Marie's father was William McWethy, her mother, Ethel Phenis; they had 3 girls and 1 boy, Faye, Meade, Marie, and Lunora.
Family was very important to Marie. As children they had very little in the way of worldly possessions. Toys often consisted of sticks and imagination. Love, however, was never lacking--the family worked to complete all the chores, then sat down together in the evening; often to play games.
School began for Marie, at the age of five, in a one room school house. Miss Pearl Prough, who taught the first four grades made a great impression on her young charges. Years later Marie could still quote things Miss Pearl had said. She soon enjoyed reading--a life long interest which continued until her eyesight failed in very old age. Math was never a favorite--she always allowed others to take care of the bookkeeping chores in later life.
Honesty, patience, and generosity were common practices of the McWethy family. The main reason they moved to farm in the panhandle, was due to the very benevolent nature of her father. After registering an earlier claim, he found a poor family with several children already living on it. He did not have the heart to tell them the land was his.
The three oldest children attended, and or graduated from, Gutherie High school. All 4 children went on to graduate in Stillwater from the Oklahoma Agriculture and Mechanical College, now known as Oklahoma State University.
To provide a little extra income during these Stillwater years, meals were served to some of the college students by the McWethy's. Moving to a larger house they also began taking in roomers. Jess Keeth became a regular at their family meals. Marie, graduating in 1924 taught school in Ripley for one year. Jess then graduated with an engineering degree. Marie and Jess Roe Keeth, were married on June 28, 1925. They had 3 children, Ruth, Judith and Walter. The young couple moved often, living in small towns from Stillwater to Durant as the state highways progressed south under the guidance of Jess. When Jess was appointed resident engineer in Oklahoma City, they were able to put down some roots. The family moved to Muskogee, when Jess became the City Engineer in 1948. Jess died in 1963.
The strong, loving family bonds which Marie experienced as a child, were extended to her own children and grandchildren. She enjoyed cooking and sewing for them, finding time to tend her flower and vegetable gardens as well. As the children began school, she encouraged them to broaden their education, by becoming Campfire Girls and Cub scout leader.
During World War II, she took Home nursing classes from the Red Cross. She was later able to use these skills in nursing family members, as well as many neighbors. She assisted in the final care of her father, mother, brother and sisters, as well as her daughter Ruth and son-in-law Lester Housley.
Bible class was important in Marie's life. She taught many classes through the years. Later as the children grew away from home her volunteer work centered on working with the Ladies Bible class projects, sewing, quilting, folding of bulletins, etc.
Marie died July 30, 2000 at the age of 97 years 7 months and 3 days, outliving all her siblings. She had lived life to the full and returned infinitely more to it than she ever took from it. She was a good person and will be sorely missed.
