1921
Mrs.
2013
Mrs. Mary Mingle
August 5, 1921 — July 11, 2013
Mary was born August 5, 1921 on a farm north of Winona, Kan. Mary achievements in 4-H and Radio Club earned her a scholarship that enabled her to attend Kansas State University. At Kansas State she earned a B.S. in Home Economics (1946) and B.S.N. in nursing (1947), a 5-year combined degree which K-State was one of the first in the nation to offer. At the University of Kansas, she earned her R.N., graduating second in her nurses' class (1946).
In 1945 she married Eugene Russell Mingle, who became a petroleum engineer after his World War II service. Early in their marriage, Eugene career with Cities Service Oil Co. caused them to move frequently. While living in Pampa, Tex., Mary taught physical education in the local high school (1947-48), including coaching her tennis team for the state championship.
In 1961 the family moved to Guymon, where Eugene and Mary settled and lived for almost 45 years, before finally moving away to a retirement community in Amarillo, Tex. and then in Kansas City, Kan.
For over 25 years Mary sponsored an Explorer Post for Scouts, in medical careers. This Future Medical Careers Club positively influenced many young Guymon men and women, leading Mary to be one of the first women in the nation recognized as an Explorer Post advisor and to earn the Silver Beaver Award, for distinguished leadership to Boy Scouts (1977).
Mary was a private duty nurse (1960- ) and at times was a nurse supervisor at Guymon Memorial Hospital. She also served as a Red Cross Home Nursing Instructor (1966). Mary was named Oklahoma District Nurse of the Year, and she served as President of the Oklahoma Nurses Association District 23 (Panhandle) (1966-67, 1981). She taught nutrition at Frank Phillips Community College nursing program in Borger, Tex. (1980).
Active in nutrition education, Mary, with her husband Eugene, were among the only 200 in the nation selected by National Gardener Magazine to test garden seeds and plants (1990).
Through cooperation from the Guymon Swimming Pool and local physicians, Mary established Oklahoma first free water aerobics program for doctor-referred patients with arthritis and similar conditions (1986). She continued this program for many years, as the state only volunteer instructor for Arthritis Aquatic Aerobics.
When Oklahoma became the first state to pioneer in-home non-technical medical care, Mary was selected to first head up the program in northwestern Oklahoma, under the State of Oklahoma Department of Human Services (1970-76). This program was also subject of her Masters thesis at Oklahoma State University in home economics education (1977).
Active at Victory Memorial United Methodist Church in Guymon, she taught Sunday School and was president several years of the United Methodist Women, which also later nominated her for Oklahoma Mother of the Year in 1992 and 1993. She also was the third woman in the state to qualify as a lay speaker in the United Methodist Church (1957).
Mary was listed in Who’s Who in American Nursing (1984), Marquis Who’s Who (2004), Dictionary of American Biography (1972), and Personalities of the South (1967, 1969).
Mary will be fondly remembered and truly missed by her family and friends.
In 1945 she married Eugene Russell Mingle, who became a petroleum engineer after his World War II service. Early in their marriage, Eugene career with Cities Service Oil Co. caused them to move frequently. While living in Pampa, Tex., Mary taught physical education in the local high school (1947-48), including coaching her tennis team for the state championship.
In 1961 the family moved to Guymon, where Eugene and Mary settled and lived for almost 45 years, before finally moving away to a retirement community in Amarillo, Tex. and then in Kansas City, Kan.
For over 25 years Mary sponsored an Explorer Post for Scouts, in medical careers. This Future Medical Careers Club positively influenced many young Guymon men and women, leading Mary to be one of the first women in the nation recognized as an Explorer Post advisor and to earn the Silver Beaver Award, for distinguished leadership to Boy Scouts (1977).
Mary was a private duty nurse (1960- ) and at times was a nurse supervisor at Guymon Memorial Hospital. She also served as a Red Cross Home Nursing Instructor (1966). Mary was named Oklahoma District Nurse of the Year, and she served as President of the Oklahoma Nurses Association District 23 (Panhandle) (1966-67, 1981). She taught nutrition at Frank Phillips Community College nursing program in Borger, Tex. (1980).
Active in nutrition education, Mary, with her husband Eugene, were among the only 200 in the nation selected by National Gardener Magazine to test garden seeds and plants (1990).
Through cooperation from the Guymon Swimming Pool and local physicians, Mary established Oklahoma first free water aerobics program for doctor-referred patients with arthritis and similar conditions (1986). She continued this program for many years, as the state only volunteer instructor for Arthritis Aquatic Aerobics.
When Oklahoma became the first state to pioneer in-home non-technical medical care, Mary was selected to first head up the program in northwestern Oklahoma, under the State of Oklahoma Department of Human Services (1970-76). This program was also subject of her Masters thesis at Oklahoma State University in home economics education (1977).
Active at Victory Memorial United Methodist Church in Guymon, she taught Sunday School and was president several years of the United Methodist Women, which also later nominated her for Oklahoma Mother of the Year in 1992 and 1993. She also was the third woman in the state to qualify as a lay speaker in the United Methodist Church (1957).
Mary was listed in Who’s Who in American Nursing (1984), Marquis Who’s Who (2004), Dictionary of American Biography (1972), and Personalities of the South (1967, 1969).
Mary will be fondly remembered and truly missed by her family and friends.
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