"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful servants." ~ Psalm 116:15

"May my strength match the length of my days." This was one of many prayers Mary Lee Moore Gossett, born in Haileyville, Oklahoma, to David Lee Moore and Zula Mae Winslow Moore on May 29, 1927, prayed daily for many years. And God honored her prayer, taking her home to be with Him for all eternity just before 3 PM on Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Oklahoma City, with her only child by her side.

Mary Lee enjoyed strong coffee, shortbread, Chanel No. 5, art, musicals, and entertaining. She played the piano and had a beautiful singing voice. Some of Mary Lee's favorite things she collected include lions, reindeer, paperweights, geodes, shells, music, dishes, paintings, flowers, angels, poetry, Diet Coke, and the Bible. In her young days, she also collected hats, and at one point prior to her daughter's birth was featured in the Oklahoma City newspaper, showcasing her 60+ hat collection.

Mary Lee was a true Southern hostess, who enjoyed nothing more than entertaining in her home throughout the decades and she did so magnificently. She enjoyed music of all kinds, and musicals, taking her daughter to many plays at Casa Mañana Theatre during their Fort Worth years, attending the community concerts each year in McAlester, and seldom missing the Broadway play onstage in Dallas during OU-TX weekend each year. Two of her favorite hymns were "It is Well with My Soul" and "In My Heart There Rings a Melody."

A person of strong faith and a staunch Southern Baptist her entire life, Mary Lee was one of the few women ever to serve on the Board of Directors of the Southern Baptist Convention's Home Mission Board. She served as the Young Women's Director for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, and as Children's Director at First Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, when Dr. Herschel Hobbs was pastor. She also served as the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma's State YWA-Sunbeam Director, living in Norman and attending FBC where the legendary Preacher E.F. Hallock was pastor. Years later, Mary Lee taught an art class at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and was the first woman elected to a finance committee of a Baptist church in Ft. Worth.

While at First Baptist McAlester, Mary Lee served as Children's Coordinator, Adult Coordinator, and Church Projects Director. She also taught a ladies Sunday school class at FBC Norman for many years, and in 2005, became one of the first writers for Christ to the World Ministries, a Texas-based ministry, writing Bible stories translated into many languages and distributed internationally.

After graduating from high school in three years, Mary Lee attended Oklahoma A & M (now, OSU), where she received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Minors in English and Insurance. She received her Masters in Education from OSU and also attended OBU, OU, and UT in Fort Worth for post graduate studies and art history courses.

Always an educator at heart, Mary Lee was an elementary school teacher, a high school English literature teacher, and an instructor at OU and Southeastern State University. Pursuant to a Senate grant, Mary Lee structured and implemented the Gifted Talented Program at McAlester High School, one of the first such programs in the state, which was used as a model, and served as Program Director during its first two years.

While her daughter was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority at OU, Mary Lee served as president, and secretary of the Pi Phi Mothers' Club. Later in life, she returned to serve as Pi Phi house mom at OU, and then as house mom for the OU Delta Delta Delta Chapter. She was voted OU Panhellenic's Outstanding House Mother twice.

Mary Lee was kind, generous, and could quote more poetry, prose, and Bible verses than anyone on the planet. Two of her favorites were The Chambered Nautilus by Oliver Wendell Holmes and Theodore Roosevelt's Quote that begins, "It is not the critic who counts...". Some of her favorite Bible verses included Deuteronomy 33:25, Matthew 19:26, Psalm 46:1, 2 Samuel 22, especially verses 29-38; and many others, too numerous to list here. In addition to her church activities, she was active in her community. Mary Lee served as a docent for the Amon Carter Art Museum in Ft. Worth, and later, at Norman's Fred Jones Art Museum. An ardent book reader, Mary Lee was a freelance book reviewer throughout the Oklahoma City metro area for several years, and served on numerous boards from 1960 to 1980, including, but not limited to the Mental Health Board in Norman, the OKC Ladies Music Club and Symphony, Ft. Worth's Docent Council and United Fund, and the McAlester Girls Club.

Mary Lee was fiercely independent and courageous, and seldom at a loss for words. She was deeply loved by her family; and loved, admired, and respected by her many friends, most of whom have gone before her to their eternal homes. Mary Lee finished strong, fought the good fight, finished the course, and kept the faith. Now, she is enjoying her eternal inheritance and an incredible reunion with many loved ones.

Mary Lee was married for 34 years to Judge Denton Delaplane Gossett, who predeceased her.

She is survived by her daughter, Sarah Lee Gossett Parrish, and her granddaughter, Dr. Sarah Caroline Stanley and husband, Dr Lane Stanley, all of Oklahoma City; her brother and his wife, Dr. David L. and Janell Moore, and nephews David Lee Moore and wife Stephanie, and Dr. Andrew Moore, wife Christen, and adult children Jack, Katie, and Eli Moore, all of Kansas City.

The family would like to thank the incredible nurses and caregivers at Epworth Villa Assisted Living and Epworth at Home Hospice, for their exceptional and loving care during the last chapter of Mary Lee's earthly life.

A private graveside service was held on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at the Gossett family plot, I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Norman, with arrangements under the direction of Havenbrook Funeral Home.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Christ to the World Ministries, christtotheworld.com or Rick Warren's Daily Hope Ministries, donate.pastorrick.com.

Online condolences may be shared at www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com.

When asked how she would like to be remembered, Mary Lee once said, "When people hear my name, I would like for them to smile." Her family hopes that, when you think of Mary Lee, you will smile, remembering her life well lived. Until we meet again, Moma....