Gretchen Atkinson

Gretchen Mae Mother Atkinson, 97, left this world peacefully Saturday, January 24, 2009. She was born Easter Sunday morning, April 16, 1911 to Daniel Gaines and Isabell Knight in Gene Autry, formerly known as Ran, Oklahoma. Mae moved to Perry with her parents when she was 17 years old, at which time she attended historic Blaine School. Mae resided in Omaha, Nebraska for 12 years before she returned to the Perry area. She was a member and usher of Zion Baptist Church in Omaha, Nebraska. Until her retirement, Mae cleaned homes for local residents in the Perry area. She also worked at the Corner Lunch Cafeacute; which was located at the site of the now Noble County Family YMCA. On October 2, 1930, Mae was united in marriage to the late Jesse P. Swan. Of this union, five children were born. She separated from Jesse and later met the late John H. Atkinson of which five children were also born. After Mae's retirement she devoted her time to her family and her church. She was a loyal and faithful member of New Prospect Baptist Church of Perry for over 25 years where she also served as an usher. Mother was the label she was lovingly given, not only by her children but by most of those who had the honor of making her acquaintance. Mae was well-known for her scrumptious cooking and especially her homemade peach cobbler. She also made anyone who crossed the threshold of her home feel warm and welcome, and they most surely left with a full stomach. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 31, 2009, at the First Baptist Church in Perry. Rev. Willie Anderson will officiate. Interment will be at Grace Hill Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Mae Atkinson Final Expense Fund in care of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home, 1010 N. 7th Street, Perry, Oklahoma 73077. Mae leaves to forever cherish her memory 6 sons and 4 daughters. Benny P. Swan and wife, Irene, of Los Angeles, California; Cozy Swan and wife, Fay of Hawthorne, California; Lawrence Swan and wife, Anita of Corinth, Texas; Betty Mitchell-Copeland and husband, Lee of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Wayne Swan and wife, Opal of Perry, Oklahoma; Lillian Brown and husband, Joe of Perry, Oklahoma; Sonia Mcpherson and husband, Paul of Perry, Oklahoma; Johnny Atkinson, Jim Atkinson, and Phyllis Atkinson all of Perry, Oklahoma; sister-in-law Elizabeth Doxey of Andover, Kansas; and last living cousin Addie Mae Burns of Portland, Oregon; 38 grandchildren; 79 great-grandchildren; 42 great-great grandchildren; a host of nieces and nephews and many family friends. Mae was preceded in death by her parents, Daniel and Isabell Knight; siblings, Ellison Knight, Manford Knight, Roscoe Knight, Jordon Lee Knight, Carmel Knight, Colman Knight, Goodley Knight, Clello Tillmon, Juanita Lancaster, Gladys Knight, Newton Knight, and Dubbie Knight; grandchildren, Marilyn Bourland, Lillian Swindall, Constance Swan, Rebecca Swan, and Kevin Johnson; great-grandchildren, Heather Swan and Adrian Swan. Condolences may be sent to the family using our online guest book at www.brown-duggerfuneralhome.com.