Mary Lee Czarnikow was born October 14, 1928 to Eva and Paul Ivey in Tulsa, OK. She passed away March 8, 2012 in Springdale, AR. She was a member of Trinity Methodist Church in Muldrow, OK. She grew up in the Roland, OK area with her parents and two sisters, Margaret and Terrence. She was fun loving and had many fond memories of socializing with friends and family. She enjoyed reminiscing about all the dancing she did as a young girl. She graduated from Roland High School in 1946.
She married Wayne Thomas Tate of Trinity, TX on May 12, 1949. After his death in February 1950, she returned to Oklahoma. Their daughter Kathy Tate was born in August 1950. Mary went to work at Colonial Bakery in Ft. Smith and it was there that she met Archie Leon Czarnikow. They were married March 5, 1951. They had one son Archie Glen Czarnikow. She was a homemaker until 1963. When she returned to working outside the home, she worked at Riverside Furniture, Ayers Furniture, Fox Manufacturing and enjoyed many years working at the Roland School Cafeteria. She was always a very dependable, hard worker and was well liked by her fellow employees and employers.
One of her greatest joys was her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her special treats for them were homemade peanut butter fudge and Christmas cheese balls. Her hobbies included reading, listening to music, and playing cards, marble games and dominoes with friends and family. She especially enjoyed traveling across the U.S. and Canada. One of her most treasured trips was one she and Archie took to Hawaii to visit their son who was stationed in the Air Force there and his family. She was a great cook, and she delighted in cooking for friends and family. Her friends and family have wonderful memories of her cooking on her wood cook stove in a cabin on her and Archie's farm. While on a tour bus trip to Cape Cod, she developed a love of lighthouses.
She is survived by her daughter Kathy Ewing and husband, Harold "Butch" of Pryor, OK and her son Archie Glen Czarnikow and wife Sharon of Huntsville, AR, two sisters: Margaret Lockwood of Roland, OK and Terrence Fox of Granby, MO. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Archie Jay Czarnikow, Robert Czarnikow, Allen Czarnikow, Kelly Ewing, and Lisa Ewing, eight great grandchildren and many special nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Wayne Thomas Tate, her parents, Paul and Eva Ivey, and her second husband, Archie Leon Czarnikow.
Pallbearers will be Stanley Resch, Richard Czarnikow, Clyde Resch, Ronnie Wilson, David Wilson, and Robert Wilson. Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Floyd, Carl Allison, Perry Smith, Paul Benoit, Art Hughes, and Steve Bradley.
Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Monday, March 12th at 2:00 PM at Fentress Mortuary Chapel in Fort Smith with burial to follow at Dora Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Fentress Mortuary of Fort Smith.
Visitation will be 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Sunday, March 11th at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that a memorial gift be given in her memory to Circle of Life Hospice 901 Jones Road Springdale, AR 72762.