Mary Erbin

Mary Manek Erbin, age 109, of Harrah, OK, left this life on Saturday, January 14, 2017, in Midwest City, OK, surrounded by her loving family. She was the daughter of Ukrainian Immigrants and was born on August 15, 1907, to Michael and Anna (Wengier) Manek, two miles directly north of Harrah, in what at the time was Indian Territory. Mary was one of eleven children born to Michael and Anna whose family consisted of 7 boys and 4 girls. She attended Peach Grove School at NE 63rd and Harrah Road through the eighth grade, having to leave to help her parents on the farm and to raise her younger siblings. As a young adult, she would move to St. Louis, where she lived with relatives and worked as a seamstress. She would soon be needed at home, once again, for farm and family responsibilities, so back to Harrah she came. Mary and her future husband, Joe Erbin knew each other as children and both attended Peach Grove School. In their early 20's, Joe would come by the Manek home to visit Mary's brother, Joe. It wasn't long before Mr. Erbin would ask Mary for a date and she would accept. They would marry two years later on January 24, 1933, at St. Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Their faith was strong, always attending Liturgy on Sunday, followed by lunch and visiting with relatives the rest of the day. She attended church every Sunday morning until her health would no longer permit. They would raise two daughters, Julia Ann and Betty Jo, who along with her husband, Joe, her parents and siblings, as well as son-in-law, James Vinson would precede her in death. Mary became a widow on January 8, 1970. She continued to work hard all her life. In the late 1970's and early 1980's she was the person in Harrah that you went to for fresh picked blackberries; people came from all around to purchase them. All of the grandkids were in her employ, but she would out pick everyone, being in the patch early morning and late evening, only taking off during the heat of the day, except if she had a really big order to fulfull in a short amount of time. On the occasion of her 109th birthday, Mary was presented with certificates recognizing her as the oldest living Oklahoman, a title she would carry with her for 5 more months. She is survived by 5 grandchildren, Jeff & Roxanna Wall, Robby Wall, David & Malinda Vinson, Tammy & Ryan Brown, Kim & Cameron Strange; 10 great-grandchildren, Jordan Wall, Hillary Wall, Justen Vinson, Jacob Vinson, Halle Brown, Miles Brown, Luke Brown, Tatum Brown, Baylee Rooks, Grady Rooks; 2 great-great-grandchildren, Baylor Wall, Hunter Vinson and many other relatives and friends. The Trisagion will be 7:00 PM, Wednesday, January 18, 2017, at St. Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Jones, OK. Services will be 2:00 PM, Thursday, January 19, 2017, at St. Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Jones, OK, with Father Raphael Moore and Subdeacon Robby Wall officiating. Interment to follow at St. Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery, Harrah, OK. Services are under the direction of Smith~Parks Funeral Service in Harrah, OK