Mary Anne Whiteford

Mary Anne (Oswald) Whiteford, 82, of Ottawa, died Sunday, October 29, 2017, at Ottawa Retirement Village. Family will meet with friends from 1:30 P.M. to 2:30 P.M. Saturday, November 4, 2017, at Dengel & Son Mortuary. Funeral services will immediately follow at 2:30 P.M. at the mortuary. Interment Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, Kansas. Following the burial family and friends will gather at First United Methodist Church. Mary Anne was born August 15, 1935 in Ottawa, the daughter of Glenn Raymond Oswald and Velma Frances (Sparks) Oswald. When Mary Anne was about four years old and her brother Donald six, their mother died due to complications from an appendectomy. Their father Glenn later married Viola Gordon, and the children considered Viola to be their mother throughout their lives. Mary Anne’s high school years were filled with many activities. She played violin and piano and was involved with vocal music at school, church and 4-H. She and her brother Donald were part of a “Mixed Quartet” that won awards at the state level. After her graduation from Princeton High School in 1953 she married James David Whiteford on June 7th at Princeton Christian Church. They shared 45 years of marriage before his death June 12, 1998. Shortly after their marriage, James joined the Navy and the two of them embarked on a life in the United States Navy that they both enjoyed. Five children and 23 years later, they returned to their Kansas roots, settling in Ottawa. Mary Anne enjoyed learning. After returning to Ottawa she attended Neosho County Community College, earning an Associate of Arts. Mary Anne enjoyed creating. She continued to draw, paint and write stories, then added jewelry making, wood carving and other skills. She volunteered with, then was employed by, the Ottawa Community Arts Council, organizing art classes for children and adults, art shows and other events supporting arts and art education in Ottawa. After 26 years with OCAC, she retired in 2004. In addition to school and OCAC, Mary Anne was an Avon representative in Ottawa for over 30 years, meeting new people and making many good friends throughout the area. Mary Anne enjoyed playing games, especially Bridge, Scrabble and Mexican Train. She continued to play her scheduled Mexican Train afternoons and Bridge weekends with friends and family until her stroke in July. Two days before her stroke Mary Anne wrote the final page of her book of Memoirs which is now a precious gift to each of her children and grandchildren. Mary Anne was preceded in death by her parents, Glenn Oswald and Viola Oswald Winchell; brother, Donald Oswald; husband, James Whiteford; and son, Gregory Scott Whiteford. Mary Anne is survived by four children, Glenna (Whiteford) Thurmes of Colorado, Bethany (Whiteford) Render of Nebraska, James Alexander Whiteford and Lawrence Martin Whiteford of Texas; nine grandchildren, six great grandchildren; brother, Doyle Oswald of Colorado; sister, Crystal Lavene (Oswald) Fuller of Virginia; and many family and friends who will miss her very much. The family suggests memorial contributions to Ottawa Community Arts Council c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. Family and friends are encouraged to post their condolences and memories on Mary Anne’s Tribute Wall at www.dengelmortuary.com