Marie Theresa Whitelock

Marie Theresa Whitelock went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 in Luther, OK at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Patricia Gross. Marie was born on June 10, 1929 in Detroit, MI to Joseph and Teresa Slanina. She graduated from Pershing High School in Detroit and attended Wayne State University. In 1947 while a member of her brother, George’s wedding party Marie met his dashing best man, Ronald D. Whitelock. Ron and Marie were married on July 31, 1948 in Detroit, MI. The U.S. Air Force moved Ron and Marie to Japan, several stateside Air Force bases and the Territory of Hawaii. After leaving the Air Force, they settled in Tulsa, OK. Marie attended Saint Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Tulsa and was a member of the Women’s Club. She and Ron enjoyed square dancing in the church hall on many Saturday evenings. She was active in adult leadership in Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. Marie and Ron and their children moved to Owasso in 1964, where Marie was a member of Saint Henry Catholic Church. She assisted with religious education of young people and was a long-time Eucharistic Minister. After her children were grown, she started a career with Kmart, retiring in 1995. She was a long-time member of the Al-Anon organization. After her 90th birthday, Marie moved to Saint Ann Retirement Center in Oklahoma City. She enjoyed the community greatly and was a well-liked and popular resident. Interesting facts about Marie include: She loved to iron and ironed sheets, pillow cases and her husband’s boxer shorts, all while watching soap operas. She had a particular order for handwashing dishes and taught her children to wash dishes the exact same way, never realizing they would all own dishwashers someday. She could French braid hair very, very well. She was very particular about how she sorted her laundry and taught her children to sort laundry the exact same way. She taught her children how to clean every room in the house. The children cleaned the house on a rotating schedule and each one took turns with different rooms. She made the best homemade bread and pies. When each of her children married, she loved their spouses like she had raised them herself and never interfered with their marriages. She loved her very large extended family immensely and prayed for each one every day. Survivors include: Her daughters, Sharla Lee, Theresa Mueller (John), Martha May and Patricia Gross; her sons, William Whitelock, Ronald Whitelock Jr. (Susan); and her daughter-in-law, Linda Whitelock. Her grandchildren, William Maker (Megan), Clark Mueller, Ron May (Kristen) Summer Miller (Matthew), Kim Helvey (Cole), Alisha Whitelock, Erica Whitelock, Jesse Whitelock, Roy Whitelock (Melissa), Matthew Whitelock (Meghan), Rene Humphries, Molly Malone and Michelle Dean. Her great grandchildren, Ellison Maker, Hadley Helvey, Allison Burton, Brealynn May, Rhett May, Isabella Lieneman, Caleb Miller, Joseph Miller, Raelynn Miller, Adrian Hart, Scott Maxson, Hailey Maxson, Zachary Whitelock, Dakota Whitelock, Kaydance Whitelock, Justice Sharrow, Austin Sharrow, Derek Whitelock, Raven Whitelock, Trinity Whitelock, Declan Whitelock, Regan McCaw, Avery Riley, Jeramiah Malone, Anthony Dean, Anabella Dean and Aaron Dean. Her great, great-grandchildren, Daxton May, Bentley McCaw and Enzo McCaw. She is also survived by dear and loving friends from Saint Henry Catholic Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Teresa Slanina; her brother George Slanina; a sister, Alice Slanina; her beloved, Ronald Whitelock, her son, Michael Whitelock, daughter-in-law, Karen Whitelock, sons-in-law, Robert May and Jerry Gross; and great grandson Jeremiah Miller. We will miss Marie and her unconditional love for each of us. We will miss her prayers. The family requests memorial contributions be made in Marie’s memory to Neighbor for Neighbor, 505 East 36th Street North, Tulsa, OK 74106, or neighborforneighbor.org. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Saint Henry Church at 10:00 AM on Monday, April 15,2024. Committal service and interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Owasso, Oklahoma. Arrangements and service were entrusted to Mowery Funeral Service of Owasso.

Marie Theresa Whitelock

June 10, 1929 - April 10, 2024