In her role as teacher, she was known as “Mrs. Clary.” She was a teacher vocationally at the 1st grade level for more than 25 years with a total teaching career spanning almost 40 years. She began teaching at the Nebo 2-room schoolhouse at the end of World War II. She moved to the Oklahoma School for the Deaf and spent many years at the Washington Elementary and Sulphur Elementary Schools with a 3-year stint on the Navajo reservation in Kayenta, AZ. It was amazing how she would lead first grade students teaching them to sound out the letters of a word and within nine months they would be able to pick up the Dick and Jane book and be able to read. She received joy and satisfaction because she knew she was giving them a gift that would last a lifetime. In her teaching role, she also taught as a ministry. She faithfully taught Sunday school for over 60 years with many of those at the Crossway First Baptist Church where she taught an adult ladies’ group. You knew that when she opened her Bible to teach, she would be prepared to share what does the scripture say, what was Jesus trying to communicate, and then wanting others to understand and apply the timeless book, The Bible.

In her role as wife and mother she was committed to the Proverbs 31 woman, loving husband, loving children, working diligently, and being faithful in prayer. Margaret Lacy and Albert Lee Clary Jr. were married May 24, 1945 until his death on January 7, 2018. Together they had 5 children, 8 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren. She was affectionately called “Mudder” by her grandchildren. At Christmas before all the hustle and bustle of opening presents, she would gather all around and stop before any presents were opened. She would take the Bible onto her lap and beginning with Genesis all the way through Revelation tell the redemption story of the love of Christ without looking at a note card. There was not a rush to get to the presents because she knew the main thing needed was to lead her family to know the Jesus Christ that she knew. This was the greatest legacy she would leave as Mudder. With many of the grandchildren she would listen to them as they would read their children’s book to her. She would be so excited as if it was the very first person learning to read. Margaret was a prayer-warrior and took this role seriously for her family, church, and friends. She loved to pray and be prayed for.

Preceding Margaret in her death were her mother and father, Irby and Minnie Lacy; two brothers, Bill and Charles; her husband, Albert Lee Clary Jr.; her infant son, Albert Lacy Clary; and a granddaughter, Teri Beth Warren.

Survivors include her daughters, June (Larry) O’Gwin,Ann (Glenn) Mann, Joyce (George) Colton; son, Irby (Cheryl) Clary; brothers, Fred and Ben; sister, Sue Tutcher; and many grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. We are truly blessed to call her Mom.

In Lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Crossway Church Mission Fund, 2108 W Broadway Ave, Sulphur, OK 73086.

Services to celebrate the life of Margaret Clary were held Monday, Feb. 10, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Crossway Baptist Church sanctuary.

Services held under the direction of DeArman Funeral Home of Sulphur.