Marianne Vannatta

Marianne Bea Brown Vannatta, 61, died April 25, 2009 following a 5-month battle with stomach cancer. Marianne was born in Oklahoma City and grew up in Colorado and Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1966 Marianne returned to Oklahoma City to attend Oklahoma City University. She was an active member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, graduated in 1970 magna cum laude and the next day, was married to the love of her life, Jerry B. Vannatta. Marianne practiced tax accounting for over 30 years as a CPA, served on the OCU Board of Trustees, Heritage Hills Historical Preservation Board, and the Oklahoma Literacy Council. In 2003 Marianne was awarded the OCU Distinguished Philanthropist Award for her years of outstanding service for the university. Marianne was also an avid runner and cyclist, running in numerous races and cycling around the United States and Europe with family and friends. In 2004 she established a yearly 5k road race - Race With the Stars - to benefit the OCU Kramer School of Nursing Scholarship Fund. Last year, just months before her diagnosis, Marianne summitted a 14,401 foot mountain in Colorado and ran and completed a half marathon. Marianne is survived by her loving husband, Dr. Jerry Vannatta her father-in-law, John Vannatta of Keys, OK two sons, Jeremy, his wife Jill and their three children, Peyton, Connor and Avery of Evanston, IL, and Seth and his beloved Rachel of Makanda, IL sister, Laura Brown of Albuquerque, NM. Services will be held at the OCU W. Angie Smith Chapel on Saturday, May 2, 2009 at 4:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the "You Are A Name, Not a Number" scholarship fund at Oklahoma City University.