Mary Ann Kavanaugh

Mary Ann Kavanaugh, 85 of Edmond, OK passed away on February 3, 2019. She was born in Oklahoma City on May 9, 1933 the only child of Rita Marie and Paul Henry Eckroat. Mary Ann was a lifelong Catholic, initially attending Bishop John Carroll and transitioning to Bishop McGuinness High School her senior year where she became a part of their inaugural graduating class. Shortly after graduation, she was engaged to Alfred William (Bill) Kavanaugh, II. To pursue her college education while concurrently being in closer proximity to Bill as he attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Mary Ann attended and ultimately graduated with a degree in English from Dunbarton College of the Holy Cross in Washington D.C. Upon graduation in June 1955, Mary Ann and Bill were married at Our Ladies Cathedral in Oklahoma City. The following almost eight years were happily spent building a family, supporting Bill's military commitment, and eventually returning to Oklahoma City and established residence in a home Mary Ann would raise her family in and where she would live for more than fifty years. She is preceded in death by her husband, Bill Kavanaugh (1963), her parents, Rita (1972) and Paul Eckroat (1992), daughter-in-law, Gretchen (Maggie) Kavanaugh (2012) and her eldest daughter, Karen Kavanaugh Kenny (2013). Mary Ann is survived by two children, daughter, Colleen Kavanaugh and son Sean Kavanaugh, his wife Frannie and daughter Amber Montgomery. Daughter Karen's children, Sarah Halley and husband Josh, Stephanie Noel, Brian Pfenninger and wife Kristin, Christina McCluskey and husband Joe. She is also survived by great-grandchildren, Nathan and Kaitlyn Halley, Alyssa, Jacob and Kathryn Noel, Story and Thea Pfenninger, Carolyn McCluskey, Ashley Perry and her husband, David, and Isaac and Kaden Osborne. She was renowned for her intellect, courage and tenacity alike and protected her family and her truth with the heart of a lion. Mary Ann's talents and interests were diverse and included her astute business acumen and investment prowess. She was a consummate cook, avid reader, an extraordinary gardener, and held a finally honed appreciation for a multitude of art forms. It is unlikely if not impossible to imagine Mary Ann ever entering a grocery store, garden center, museum, antique store, book store or library that she didn't like. In her younger years she was also heavily involved in a variety of civic and social service projects for the betterment of her community both large and small. Mary Ann had an insatiable thirst for knowledge, always asking why and she firmly believed independent critical thought and analysis whether through formal or informal education was the key to unlocking the answers to most any question raised. She often said that the value of an education was not to learn the answers but to learn how to go about finding the answers through your own pursuits. It was not sufficient to simply believe as others did, act as others prescribed or take the easier, softer path at the expense of what she assessed to be the appropriate course of action. To blindly follow or act prematurely without forethought was in her mind a fools errand and Mary Ann was not one to suffer fools, nor their errors lightly. She expected much of others but infinitely more of herself. Mary Ann reserved a special place in her heart for animals, especially the family pets and is co-survived by her King Charles Cavalier, Cord, and a host of canine grand-pups, two precious grand-hamsters and one very special grand-bunny. Visitation will begin at 9 am Friday, February 8, 2019 followed by a celebration of Mary's life at 7:00 pm. at Smith and Kernke N. May. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place Saturday, February 9, 2019 at 1:00 pm. at Christ the King Catholic Church.