Mary Lee Spinks

Mary Lee Gilstrap Spinks was born March 19, 1936 in Claremore, Oklahoma and passed away September 16th, 2025 in Conroe, TX. She was 89 years old.

Memorial Services will be held at 9 am; October 4th, 2025 at the Payne Funeral Home; 102 W 5th St, Claremore, OK 74017. If you care to view the service remotely, here is the live streaming link: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EypBxi9iW/

Mary Lee was the oldest of 3 children born to Col. Lee Frazier and Doris Hays Gilstrap of Claremore, OK.

Mary Lee grew up in a prominent family in Claremore. Prominence not measured by money; rather by accomplishment. She had a grandfather (Dr. W.F. Hays) who was one of the early doctors in town; another grandfather who was a Major in the army and an Indian Agent appointed by President Benjamin Harrison. A grandmother who was a legal “Sooner” in the Oklahoma Land Run of 1889. Her father was literally a war hero and her mother was a teacher and hero to the family.

There were some difficult times for Mary Lee and her family as she was a toddler when World War II broke out. Her father was overseas fighting the war while her mother was home raising 3 children with limited means of the time. To make matters even more difficult, when Mary Lee was a teenager, her young sister Julie was born with special needs and required a lot of attention from the entire family.

Mary Lee graduated from Claremore High School Class of ‘54 (she was super proud of these friends – Go Zebras!). Then she went on to attend Oklahoma State University and joined the Pi Beta Phi sorority. Another experience she adored.

Fast forward a bit, and a blind date to Houston for a college football game; Mary Lee met her husband Jack. This whole storyline is a movie in itself; but suffice it to say they married, moved to Texas, and had two children: David and Carlton

Jack’s career in the oil and gas industry had the family move several times. Houston, Corpus Christi, back outside of Houston, and San Antonio. Everywhere they lived they made wonderful work and neighborhood friends. Mary Lee was always involved with PEO, the Houston Junior Forum, her sorority chapter, their church, and whatever the boys were into.

When it was time to retire, Mary Lee and Jack moved back to Claremore as her mother was aging and in need of assistance. They quickly embraced, and were embraced, by the Claremore community. They returned to the original family church, they were deeply involved with Rogers State University and Oklahoma Military Academy, Jack was a member of the city development board and Mary Lee was a docent many years with the Will Rogers Museum.

Jack and Mary Lee were married for 66 years before Jack died on January 24th, 2025; just 8 months earlier. Mary Lee developed dementia a few years ago and they decided to move to a senior facility in Conroe, Texas (near their son David) that offered assisted and memory care.

In their last years together, Jack and Mary Lee were inseparable. Mary Lee needed the help and Jack was grateful to give it. After Mary Lee needed to transition down the hall to the Memory Care rooms; Jack went to visit her every afternoon faithfully for 2+ years. Even as her deterioration progressed and she could no longer recognize her husband and lost her ability to speak; Jack continued to hold her hand every day and be with her.

They both set such wonderful examples to friends and family how to love, to forgive, to give second chances, to mentor, and to encourage. They raised the bar pretty high as a model marriage and model parents. It’s not easy living to those expectations; but they never said it was easy. They were loving and committed.

Mary Lee is survived by her son David Spinks (and his wife Anne Nevotti Spinks); their adult children Cody Spinks; Amanda Spinks Byers (husband Chris Byers) and their children Graham, Reagan and Layla; son Carlton Spinks (and his wife Shannon Fox Spinks) along with granddaughter Skylar Spinks. Her brother Hays Gilstrap (wife Suzanne Barger Gilstrap) and their children Julie Colosacco (husband Mark); Heather Nicholas (husband Dave) and Courtney LeVinus (husband Chuck). Also surviving are her nephew Stephen Mulvehill, sister-in-law Karol Sawatka and niece Michelle Fernandez and nephew Mark Sawatka. Additionally there were many cousins from both the Gilstrap and Spinks/Maples family and friends that she dearly loved.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to:

The Will Rogers Memorial Museum

Will Rogers Memorial Foundation

PO Box 2606

Claremore, OK 74018

Contribute Online: https://willrogers.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donation

Mary Lee was on the board and docent and enjoyed the promotion of Will Rogers and his approach to humanity.

- or -

P.E.O. Foundation

3700 Grand Ave.

Des Moines, IA 50312

a womens empowerment and scholarship program

- or, a Charity of your choice.