A Life Well Lived

Mary Ann Craig- Russell was born May 13th 1949 to Leroy Bo Craig Sr. and Maggie Beatrice Smith In Muskogee, OK.

She was baptized at Hope Lutheran where she was a faithful member for 25 years.

Mary Graduated from the Historic Manual Training High School in Muskogee, OK with the class of 1969.

Mary was a hard worker working two jobs while raising two children. She worked from Sun-up to Sun-down. Mary worked for Muskogee Public Schools for 10 years as a Dietary Aide at various elementary schools and later went on to gain employment with the Oklahoma School for the Blind where she worked for 10 years and retired due to health conditions. She was also an CNA part-time at Tower Hill Nursing Home throughout the years.

Mary also obtained a forklift license in 1988 from Indian Capital Vo-tech.

As an adult Mary loved to go to garage sales, go fishing, and playing bingo was a favorite, she also dibbled in gardening and  planting flowers.

Mary was one of a kind. She enjoyed life. She enjoyed taking random road trips and loved to just get in the car and drive. Mary loved to cook, she always said you cook by taste and not so much by measurement of ingredients.

After High school Mary left Muskogee, OK and went to McKinney Job Corp where she met Archie Ray Battle and later married Archie and had two daughters Tammy Ann and Audry Battle. After three years living in Blue Ridge, TX; she returned to her hometown of Muskogee, OK; where she worked and raised her children and lived her life to its fullest.

Two of Mary's Favorite Quotes was "I'll tell and show you how the cow ate the cabbage" and "walk like you have somewhere to go and something to do".  She was a get it done type of woman. She talked very fast. So listen closely the first time so she don't have to repeat herself.

Those left cherish her memory, her daughters, Tammy Ann Battle, Dallas, TX;  and Audry Battle, Muskogee, OK; granddaughters, Ebony Battle  and Chineisah Battle, grandson, Glenn (Smokey) Battle and nine great-grandchildren, four sisters Ocie, Helen, Avalon and Sonya and one brother, Richard Craig and a host of nephews, nieces and friends.

A Home Going service is scheduled Friday, September 13, 2024, 11:00 a.m., New Zion Baptist Church, 901 North 3rd Street, Muskogee, OK; with Pastor Emeritus of New Jerusalem Baptist Church, Perline Boyattia-Craig, delivering the eulogy.  Interment will follow in Booker T. Washington Cemetery, Muskogee, OK.

Visitation will be Thursday, September 12th, 2024, 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.

The family has been cared for by House of Winn-Muskogee