Mary Ann Sipes

Mary Ann Sipes

October 23, 1939 – July 9, 2021

Mary Ann Sipes departed this earthly life to receive her heavenly reward on July 9, 2021, after a courageous battle with COPD and liver failure. She was born in Sallisaw, OK, to Wilton “Bill” Latimer and Lois McMahan Latimer on Oct 23, 1939; the family later moved to Oklahoma City when Mary Ann was a teenager. In her youth, Mary Ann enjoyed mothering her younger twin sisters, playing the piano for the Methodist Church and learning to crochet, eventually receiving 1^st and 2^nd place ribbons at the Oklahoma State Fair. She met Kenneth Wayne Sipes in chorus class at John Marshall High School and the two married on August 23, 1957, at Britton Church of Christ where they became active members. She gave birth to daughter, Debbie, on Christmas Day of 1960. Mary Ann was more than a devoted mother; she was Debbie’s very best friend. Kenny and Mary Ann would have celebrated 64 years of marriage this August. Mary Ann was a hard worker, assisting Kenny in building a successful marketing business. Her excellent shorthand and typing skills paved the way to becoming a well-accomplished Executive Secretary/Assistant. Having worked for many insurance executives and higher education administrators in her career, she retired in 2001 after 20-years of service at Oklahoma Christian University. Following the death of pre-mature twin grandsons, she found solace in her hobby of crochet. She began designing preemie caps and booties for ICU infants at area hospitals, which lead to designing crochet on a much larger scale. Her designs have been published in articles and numerous books sold nationally, making her well-known among crochet enthusiasts and the crochet industry. Being of humble spirit, although featured in Woman’s World magazine, she never drew attention to herself for her accomplishments. Above all, Mary Ann loved her family and treasured spending time with them. She is preceded in death by her parents and infant grandsons Jason and Rusty Bowen. She is survived by her husband Kenneth, daughter Debra Rigsby and her husband Philip, grandson Shelby Rigsby, sister Sandra Hart and her husband Gary, all of Edmond, sister Linda Ryser of Moore, eight nieces and two nephews. She was a long-time member of the Crochet Guild of America and the Edmond Church of Christ. Viewing will be held at Matthews Funeral Home Chapel on Wednesday July 14^th from 1:00 until 8:00 p.m. with family present to greet friends from 5:00 until 7:00. Services will be held Thursday July 15^th at Matthews Funeral Home Chapel at 10:00 a.m. followed by the burial at Memorial Park Cemetery.