Marris
Ollie Mae Marris, 78, of Madill, Okla. passed away on Monday, January 26, 2026, surrounded by her family. She was born on June 14, 1947, in Talihina, Okla., to the late Charley John and Pauline (Lewis) John.
Ollie Mae was raised in Ardmore, where her values of faith, perseverance and pride in her Choctaw heritage were firmly rooted. She attended Carter Seminary School in Ardmore, Okla. and continued her education at Haskell in Lawrence, Kans., graduating in 1966.
On March 25, 1967, Ollie Mae married Carl Winston Marris, at Pickens Baptist Church in McMillan, Okla. Together they built a life centered on faith, family and community. Ollie Mae devoted her professional life to serving Native children and families, working as an Indian Education Coordinator for Madill Public Schools. She was a strong advocate for Native education and proudly supported the Johnson O’MalleyIndianEducationProgram.Sheenjoyedtraveling to Johnson O’Malley conferences where she formed lifelong bonds with Effie Gibbs, Teresa Bolin, Kim Smith, Esterline Stick and the late Etta Johnson. Ollie Mae was a faithful member of Archard Road Baptist Church in Madill and enjoyed shopping, sewing and helping other people. Above all, Ollie Mae was extremely proud of her children and grandchildren, whom she loved fiercely and spoke of often.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Charley John and Pauline (Lewis) John; grandmother, Ollie John; brother, Walter John; and sister, Patsy Willmond.
She is survived by her husband, Carl Winston Marris of Madill, Okla.; children, Charles Marris and Kimberly Yates of Marietta, Okla., Valerie McDonald and husband Jeff of Kingston, Okla.; grandchildren, Amber Kosmicki of Charlotte, NC, Justin Marris and wife Michele of Dean, Texas, Kristen Marris Oates and husband Warren of Canberra, Australia, Brandon Marris and wife Sarah of Aubrey, Texas, Caleb McDonald of Kingston, Okla., Sydney Marris and partner Jameson Parks of Superior, Colo., Kobe Carlile and husband Jimmie of Madill, Okla.; great-grandchildren, Henley Marris, Haidyn Marris, Hadleigh Marris, Nashoba Marris, Autumn Marris, and Aurelia Parks, Kamille Rose, Jhett Rose and Kloe Welch.
OllieMaeMarriswillberememberedforherunwavering faith, her fierce pride in her Mississippi Choctaw heritage, her dedication to education and her deep, abiding love for her family. Her legacy lives on in the generations she nurtured and the lives she touched.
Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with a Wake at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the Watts Funeral Home in Madill, Okla.
Funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026, at the Watts Memorial Chapel in Madill, Okla. Stephen Wall will officiate the service. Music is arranged byTheChickasawChoir. IntermentwillbeattheMcMillan Cemetery in McMillan, Okla.
Casket Bearers will be Justin Marris, Brandon Marris, Caleb McDonald, Jimmie Carlile, Marc Willmond, Jason Wallace, Macen Marris and Jacob Willmond.
Honorary Bearers are Noel Marris, Jarrett Wallace, Dibbon Marris, Sean Willmond, Jeff McDonald, Chad Selvy, Henry Marris III and Warren Oates