DUNCAN —
We will be celebrating your life with 97 Valentine wishes and memories on Feb. 15, 2013.
Born to Mary Nina (Owens) and Leland Scrogin in Wichita, Kan., you were one of six growing up with love, laughter and music. Your homes were in Wichita and Pratt, Kan. Latter Red Craggs near the Garden of the Gods and in Colorado Springs near the Broadmore.
Your husband of 72 years Roy Martin, son Robert Leland, parents and siblings have predeceased you.
Your daughters: Rebecca, Nancy; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren; plus numerous other family members and friends.
After attending kindergarten in Wichita, your family moved and you graduated from Pratt Liberty High School. Attending Chicago Musical College, then Bethany College, Lindsburg, Kan., you went on to O. C.W., Chickasha, to receive a BM in Piano. While at O.C.W. your activities were Sigma Delta Social Club, Hypatia and Waldorf’s String Quartette and Quintette, Phi Epsilon Music Club, May Queen nom, and awarded many high honors and scholarships. Your dear roommates were Virjama Rose Hamilton and Jane Dilling Griffith. Your first year of public music teaching was in Sentinel.
Your parents then brought you to Ryan, and found you a place to stay at your future in-laws home. You then began teaching private piano in the Ryan Schools. During your stay Roy Marvin’s dad, Dr. L. L. Wade told Roy, “Mary Helen is very special. I like her.” With that comment you then wed on July 12, 1938, in Pratt, at the Park Hills Country Club. The club was very special since your dad planted the trees on the course and was a Charter Member.
“Daddy got away from the long hours at the First National Bank, six kids, and played golf until dark. He loved it.” You built your first home next door to your in-laws. A little booming town that offered lasting friendships of Audie Detrick, Flossie Rutledge, Olive Stewart, Fern Major, Lera Southard and close neighbor, Mary Beth Mitchell. Roy worked for D-X, SunRay and you continued private teaching. Many times trading out lessons for your girls little dresses that were handmade or painting by local artists. It was there Rebecca, Nancy and Robert were raised.
Moving to Duncan in 1951 you continued piano, directing choir in the First Meth and St. Paul’s Methodist Church, and pianist in the First Christian Church. Returning as an adjunct facility member at USAO in 1975 you held facility positions at Cameron University in Lawton and the American College of Musicians for 10 years you studied with “Artist in Residence Jaques Abram and Fernando Laires at OCW and OCLA, county, state, national and professional association memberships are endless.
Service to your community as a master instructor at Keyboard Camp, Civic Capers, “Chamber Music Revival” and organizing the Otilla Arnold Memorial Scholarship Competition were your missions. In 1976 you received your MAT Degree at Texas Women’s University in Denton, Texas. You were the first person to ever earn a piano pedagogy degree.
In November 2007 you were inducted into the USAO Hall of Fame in Chickasha. Because of your dynamic students recommendations Cynthia (Richardson) Benton, David Hooten, Donald Grantham and Erica (Keithly) Minneman, all accredited you with their musical success. You deserve a tribute written about you on your glorious day.
Special persons that loved and supported you were your daughter, Nancy Kerr; daughter-in-law, LoAnne Tremaine; grandsons: Roy and Terry Kerr and Tremaine Wade. Close family and friends David Kerr and Marie and Gene Sommerfelt.
Extra special thanks were to your daughter, Nancy, and her son, Roy, who shared responsibility in your quality of care in the last eight years. Also Angel Care, Hospice, Manor Care rehab and St. Anthony’s Hospital Doctors and Nurses.
Memorial service will be at 10 a.m. in the First United Methodist Church with a graveside service at 3 p.m. in the Ryan Cemetery. Both services are Friday, Feb. 15.
In lieu of flowers send memorials to the First Methodist Church, the University of Arts and Sciences Alumni Assoc. or your favorite charity.
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
