Mary Katherine Jake

Mary Katherine Jake was born January 3, 1950, in Hominy, Oklahoma to John Jake Jr and Georgia (Kipp) Jake. She grew up in the Hominy area with two brothers and five sisters. She attended and graduated from Sequoyah High School in Tahlequah. Mary loved education and received three different college degrees. She started at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, graduating with a 3.25 GPA in 1972. Later she attended Oklahoma State University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, graduating with a 3.15 GPA in 1991. In 2019 she graduated from Tulsa Community College with an associate degree in Community Nutrition with a GPA of 3.2.

She spent her career in the Airline industry working in customer service for Hertz Rent a Car and then at Southwest Airlines. After retirement she drove people to their doctor’s appointments with Cimmaron Public Transit and worked at Wal-Mart as a door greeter. Mary was always there to help others. She was very organized in everything she did. Mary was very athletic and enjoyed participating in marathons across the country. She would plan her vacations to attend the marathons.

Because of her commitment to her family and culture she continued the family songs for American Legion Veterans’ Day dance at Post 198. She also kept the family songs for Zon-Zo-Li In-Lon-Shka alive by bringing her family together and being the roll model to keep the culture alive. She was actively learning the Osage language and ribbon work from Kathrine Redcorn.

Mary Katherine Jake passed from this life on Sunday, May 5, 2024, at OSU Medical Center in Tulsa with family surrounding her.

Mary Katherine Jake was survived by her nieces and nephews Judith St John, Mary Lee, Joshua Bevenue, Darryl Kipp, Jennifer Kipp, Jessica Emarthle and Martin Emarthle; numerous great nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents John Jake Jr and Georgia (Kipp) Jake; her siblings Darryl Kipp, George Jake, Susan Emarthle, Josephine Jake, Ida Bevenue, Judy Jake, and Holly Jake; niece Andrea Jake; nephew John Joseph Jake.

Funeral service for Mary Jake will be 9:00 AM on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at the Hominy Indian Village Community Building followed by burial at the A J Powell Memorial Cemetery. Traditional Osage meal will be served following the burial. Arrangements made by Powell Funeral Home in Hominy, Oklahoma.