Mattie Louise Parris

Mattie Louise Parris, a resident of Shawnee for 89 years, passed away on July 19, 2015, in Lawrenceville, GA. Mattie is survived by her son, Russell (Eddie) Parris; her daughter-in-law, Margaret (Judy) Parris; three grandchildren: Russell S. Parris and his wife Libby, Robert W. Parris, and Maureen K. Walker and her husband Josh; and three great grandchildren: Jackson, William and Alexander Parris. Mattie was preceded in death by her husband, Russell E. Parris, who was killed in action in World War II; her father, Henry Black, her mother, Arminda Black; brothers: Henry, Eugene and Charlie and half-sister Ruth Singleton. She was named after her aunt, Mattie Dodson. Mattie was born on August 11, 1922, in Dale, Oklahoma, where she graduated from High School in 1940. After the loss of her husband in 1944, Mattie attended business school and obtained employment as a typist and secretary in the County Clerk’s office. She then worked as a clerk at Tinker Air Force Base for over 30 years. After retirement, Mattie worked part time as a bank teller and enjoyed hosting visits by her grandkids. Mattie was an active member of Liberty Baptist Church for many years. Having lived through the Great Depression as a young teenager, losing her one and only spouse in World War II and then raising her child as a single mom before anyone coined that phrase, Mattie truly represented what Tom Brokaw referred to as “The Greatest Generation.” A funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday, July 24 at Walker Funeral Service of Shawnee with Phil Thompson officiating, followed by internment at Dale Cemetery.