Obituary for Mary Harms

Mary Harms

September 15, 1924 – November 27, 2021

Mary Harms, resident of Tulsa and former Ponca City resident, passed away peacefully Saturday, November 27th at her home in Tulsa. She was 97. A memorial service celebrating Mary’s life will be held at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, December 5th, 2021, at the Hartford Avenue Church of Christ with Mr. Don Huddleston, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W. Grand Ave., Ponca City, OK 74601.

Mary was born on September 15th, 1924, to Hill Broadway and Myrtle Stevenson Broadway in Papalote, TX, moved to Tuleta, TX at an early age and then to Pettus, TX. She was married to Lyle Harms on July 26, 1955, in Beeville, TX.

She is survived by one sister, Johnie Marie Broadway of Athens, GA; by son Larry Harms and wife Paula of Tulsa, OK; daughter Janice Hendricks and husband Rick of Tulsa, OK; her four grandchildren, Ryan Harms and wife Allison, R. F. Hendricks and wife Jessica, Adam Harms and partner Angie Bowser, and Mary Hendricks along with 6 great-grandchildren, Lylah, Olivia, Andrew, Harper, Ross and Ena. She was preceded in death by her husband Lyle, her parents and 4 siblings.

She became a Christian when she was 13 years old and her relationship with God and His Son was the most vital part of her life. She was a member of the Hartford Avenue Church of Christ in Ponca City for 50 years and has been a member of the The Park Church of Christ in Tulsa for the last 11 years.

Mary was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She loved her family deeply and spent her life serving them in whatever way she could. She also served the Lord’s church and His people in many ways. She was a dedicated Bible Class teacher for children and for women.

Mary had the gift of hospitality, and she was a wonderful cook and hostess. Over the years she fed thousands of people her famous Sunday lunch. She had hundreds of people stay overnight in her home and hosted hundreds of bridal and baby showers as well as other adult and youth events. She became a mentor of younger women and was a caring friend and confidant of many.

Mary and Lyle were a team. She joined/supported him in his career, church leadership, mission work, prison ministry, work in Christian higher education, benevolent work and many other endeavors. Together they were wonderful examples of how the Love of Christ can transform individuals into a Christian couple who can share that Love in service to others. They had a profound effect on the lives of those who knew them. She finished the course, kept the faith and is receiving her reward.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Mary and Lyle Harms Engineering Scholarship at Oklahoma Christian University, or to the Lyle Harms Library at African Christian College.

Source: Trout Funeral Home