Mary Dee Morrison

Mary Dee Morrison

1944-2015

Mary Dee Morrison’s more than 70 amazing years with us took her from rural Oklahoma to the streets of Manhattan, the jungles of Papua New Guinea, the wine country of northern California, and the family law courtrooms of Oklahoma City. Kind, loving and quick to smile, she was a friend to everyone she knew. She was greatly loved and will be sorely missed. She passed away on June 22. Born on January 8^th, 1944 in the small town of Geary, Oklahoma, Mary Dee Morrison graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1965 with a degree in vocal music, which grew out of her love of singing. While at OSU, she made life-long friends as a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. She went on to travel to Japan to perform as a part of a USO tour of U.S. military bases there. Years later, she and her then husband took a little-known seafood restaurant on the New Jersey Shore and built it into a culinary powerhouse, earning accolades from publications ranging from the New York Times to Gourmet Magazine. Later, she would manage the famed Café des Artistes restaurant in Manhattan. After continuing her career in the hospitality industry both in Sonoma County and Napa Valley, California, Mary Dee moved to Edmond, Oklahoma, to be near family. She drew immense satisfaction and joy from helping others, and joined overseas Habitat for Humanity construction projects in China, Papua New Guinea and Argentina. She became a child’s rights advocate for the Oklahoma County branch of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) where she made a profound impact on the children she represented. She was on hand for the adoption ceremony for one of the children she helped, just weeks before passing away due to cancer.

Mary Dee also loved travelling, all things French, and her Irish Setter Molly.

She is survived by her brother Wesley and his wife Judy; nephew Ward Morrison, his wife Kirsten and sons Wyatt and Cooper; nephew Todd Morrison, his wife Kate and their son Kemper. She is preceded in death by her father Wesley Ward Morrison, Jr. and her mother Mary Ila Morrison. Mary Dee’s family is grateful for the love and support she received from friends during her illness. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 5th at the First Presbyterian Church of Edmond, on 1001 S. Rankin Street. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to CASA of Oklahoma County, 5905 N. Classen Court, Suite 302, OKC 73118, or online at www.okcountycasa.org. Services are under the direction of Matthews Funeral Home.