Mary Brett

1931 - 2025

Mary Jean Brett

March 4, 1931 - November 10, 2025

Mary Jean James Brett, went home to heaven on November 10, 2025.

There will be a service on Friday November 21st at 1 p.m., at Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church. Mary was too smart to rely on anyone else to write her obituary. The version she wrote herself is provided below. But first, here is an unauthorized version, containing some information she neglected to include:

Mary liked to joke that she was defined by her positions to others – daughter of Guy James; wife of Judge Thomas Brett; mother of Laura Tribble, Ford Brett, Susan Hughes, and Maricarolyn Swab; Sunday School teacher to countless teenagers over the years. But that couldn't have been further from the truth because all those people could ever do as it related to Mary was to reflect her bright light further into the world. If Mary saw you, she would smile at you and was interested in talking to you. If you talked to her, you could not escape her brilliance, wit, and genuine interest in and compassion for the people around her. For her part, Mary would take only seconds to find something about you that interested her – then she would want to talk to you even more. Mary's family had no choice but to try to keep up and to learn as much from her as possible.

Mary could perform many types of magic: playing the piano by ear; speed reading; making mashed potatoes as decadent as any dessert; and giving each of her 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren the feeling that they were each loved by her the most. (In one such feat, she remembered every single one of those birthdays and called each birthday person every year to play Happy Birthday on the harmonica and then hang up without saying a word). Using this final type of magic, Mary knitted together the rare large extended family in which everyone genuinely cheers for one another. Of all her numerous accomplishments – President of the Gilcrease Museum Association, founding member of Kirk of the Hills, creator of the famous Mary Brett casserole – this seemed to delight her the most.

Because she is not here to be annoyed by this, it is safe to disclose that Mary also happened to be gorgeous. A detailed description would sound made-up, so readers will have to take this claim at face-value. But, luckily for her, no one could possibly dislike Mary for being beautiful because it was so obviously more fun to be her friend.

Mary believed very literally in angels. Her loved ones who haven't previously believed in angels will have to start now because they are certain to continue to feel her light throughout their lives.

Finally, here is Mary's official auto-obituary, written when she was in her late 80's (she liked to think ahead):

Mary Jean James Brett arrived from heaven March 4, 1931 to Manila and Guy H. James of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She returned to heaven November 10, 2025. During her lifetime she read that God forgives but was hoping God had not forgiven Hugh Hefner nor Hitler. She did not want to run into either in heaven and act pleasant. She does know that LORD is more loving then her.

Naturally talented in many ways and without any training whatever, she was extremely adept at losing jewelry. This included not only her mother's engagement ring but her own as well.

She also left a nice, and new, pearl earring in a phone booth at the airport in Beijing.

She briefly took over the controls and flew a U.S. Army Air Force trainer PT-17 as well as a glider. She ran off a mountain in Gstaad Switzerland and went Paragliding in tandem. While sailing over the Alps asking if anyone had ever been killed in one of these "contraptions" the young Swiss man replied, "someone died in a bicycle wreck last week." At this point it was too late to cancel the trip.

She graduated from Classen High School in Oklahoma City the same year as her future husband Thomas Rutherford Brett. He was on the 1948 state championship basketball team which trounced Tulsa Central High by a score of 33-32. He was also Classen " Prince of Friendship" which raised Mary's rank at their marriage from "commoner" to "royalty."

She graduated from Oklahoma University as a speech pathologist where she was a Kappa Alpha Theta. Along the way she was President of Gilcrease Museum Association and a long-time docent giving school children's tours while Mr. Gilcrease was still alive. She was on Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church sanctuary building committee which had 105 meetings and created a terminal burnout.

The Bretts produced four children smarter, better looking, and all together nicer people than either of them: Laura Tribble (Lee McLemore), James Ford Brett (Kathy), Susan Hughes (Bob), and Maricarolyn Swab (Brett). These children and their children earned many letters after their names.

If you are bothered by disgusting and blatant bragging, please skip this paragraph. The most anguished and difficult letters to attain were gained by the grandchild who earned a membership in AA. Other letters easier to earn were MD, PhD, LLB, Mech Eng, Dr of Divinity, BA, MA, MBA, JD, MSW, ASID. Besides all these examples of hard work the great-grandchildren are so fast on their feet, chances are they could beat Jessie Owens running through the house.

The Tulsa World newspaper charges per inch for obituaries. Listed below are the grand and great-grandchildren. It is entirely possible these people would prefer cash instead of being mentioned.

Grandchildren: Taylor Tribble (Kyla), Ashley Tribble Simmons (Brent), Kyle Brett (Zack Whitlow), Skylar Brett, Marianne Brett (Michael Hedin), Tom Brett (Riley), Brett Crump (Sarin), Ted Crump (Tina), John Swab (Samantha), Jay Swab (Julie), Lily Swab.

GREAT-grandchildren: Jack Simmons, Micah Simmons, Ruby Simmons, Veyana Tribble, Lilian Tribble, Emery Tribble, Mary Claire Tribble, Eloise Hedin, Gladys Hedin, Dorothy Hedin, Otis Hedin, Hazel Whitlow, Juniper Whitlow, lta Estrada, Fern Brett, Judah Crump, Roman Crump, Cameron Crump, Elliott Brett, Kyle Brett, Matthew Swab, Johnny Swab, Annie Swab, and Ozzy Swab.

Tear this last paragraph off and tape it to your mirror:

Philippians 4:4-9.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brother, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in Christ. Then the God of peace will be with you.

In lieu of any flowers, Mary would prefer a donation to be made to Pathways Adult Learning Center (pathwaysok.org).