Marie Arnold

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of our beloved Mama and Grandma, Marie Arnold, at home in Maysville, Oklahoma Saturday, September 12, 2026; but, we are comforted by the knowledge that she passed peacefully and gently into the loving arms of her Savior Jesus Christ.

Marie Work was born August 23, 1928, to Riley and Sophia Graman Work in the Hughes Community, Lindsay, Oklahoma. The oldest daughter of eleven children, she grew up helping her dad and brothers on the family farm. Marie graduated from Hughes High School in 1946. She enjoyed school and playing basketball. She took great joy in her brothers and sisters, their families, and all of their accomplishments.

In 1947, Marie married Clyde Arnold. They moved to Lubbock, Texas, where Clyde was working. Marie convinced him to return to the Lindsay-Maysville area to farm. For the next forty-nine years they farmed, ranched and raised their three children: Sandra Jeannetta, Cheryl Denise, and Merlin Paul. She and Clyde’s love of learning was passed down to each of their children. Marie continued much of her education at Mid-America Technology Center. She took an eclectic number of classes in art, sewing, cooking, upholstery, floristry, cake decorating, and numerous computer classes. Most of her married life she chose to work alongside Clyde on the farm, but she also worked at Ben Franklin’s, her sister-in-law Louise Work’s Palace Cleaners, and as a substitute teacher.

Marie devoted her life to her family by showing love and kindness to each of them. She was not only our mother, sister, grandmother; she was our friend, teacher, counselor, leader, and North Star. A longtime member of Story Baptist Church, she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary 213 and a proud member of the Choctaw nation. Marie participated in the Choctaw festivals, art shows, and meetings with her sisters and often volunteered at the Red Earth Festival.

Marie loved telling stories of her youth while teaching her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to skip, multiply, read, garden, cut broomcorn, and many other necessities of life. She watched the OU football and basketball games and was passionate about the Thunder and “The Bold and The Beautiful”. She could recite Longfellow’s “A Psalm of Life”, Whitman’s “O Captain! My Captain!”, Henley’s “Invictus” and other classic poems. She loved to sing songs from the Baptist Hymnal, do word search puzzles, garden, sew, make jewelry and read. Marie touched the lives of so many people showing grace, compassion, and kindness to all. She will be greatly missed by all of us who love her.

Marie was preceded in death by her husband Clyde Arnold, son-in-law Robbie Wootten, her parents, Riley and Sophia Work, brothers Preston and Theo Work, and sister Opal Work.

She is survived by her children, Sandra Wootten, Cheryl (Burse) Dills, and Paul (Beth) Arnold; grandchildren, Emily (Matthew) Smith, John (Renee) Wootten, Lisa (Carlos) Zambrano, Blake (Amanda) Dills, Shane (Amber) Wyatt, Jessie (Jenni) Arnold; great-grandchildren, Gabriel and Abigail Smith, Vanessa, Savannah, and Harrison Wootten, Samuel and Norah Zambrano, Connor Dills, Kaedon (Portia), Kolby and Madi Wyatt, and Linnex, Nolin, and Haylin Arnold; great-great grandchildren, Asher and Austin Wyatt; siblings, Lige Work, Joyce Housour, Mary Allen, Joe (Mildred) Work, Geneva (Jim) Manning, Betty (Richard) Flurry, and Ed (Farrah) Work; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends she met over ninety-eight years of striving to walk a Christ-like path.

Services will be under the direction of John W. Williams at Winans Funeral Home, Maysville, Oklahoma on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at the Maysville Cemetery.