Obituary of Marilee Chambers

Marilee Moore Chambers passed away on August 6, 2009, at age 80 after a long and valiant battle with Myelodysplastic syndrome leukemia. Marilee was born May 9, 1929, in Dallas, Texas to Alva &quot;Gigi&quot; Isabelle Johnson Moore and Dudley Worth Moore. She was educated and raised in Tulsa, graduating from Tulsa Central High School in 1947. She graduated from Tulsa University in 1951 with a degree in journalism. She would remain a lifelong fan in the truest sense of the word of her beloved alma mater, attending and supporting a wide variety of Tulsa University athletic events (whoosh). Shortly after graduation she married fellow classmate Syrus E Chambers forging a union that would last 54 years until Sy's death four years ago. Her love of journalism led to a successful and productive career at the Tulsa World as well as local television stations and advertising agencies. In 1968 she returned to Tulsa University and attained a master's degree in English and Journalism to pursue her lifelong dream of teaching. She taught English and Journalism as well as coordinating the newspaper and yearbook projects at the middle and high school levels until her retirement in 1992 from the staff of Nathan Hale High School. She dearly loved her students and with her genuine attitude of respect and concern for all they offered her, she was dearly loved in return. Marilee was a lifelong member of Centenary United Methodist Church where she was active in the United Methodist Women's group. She was a permanent fixture in the choir, organized countless fund raisers, taught Sunday School, and served repeatedly as the Vacation Bible School director becoming, with time, a vital and essential part of the very foundation of her beloved Centenary United Methodist Church. She participated in many national and international Volunteer in Mission trips throughout Oklahoma, Mexico and Israel. She was particularly passionate about the United Methodist Conference Wilderness Camp where she served as an &quot;Adult Camper&quot; for 30 years. All of her five grandchildren have attended the camp lovingly referred to by them as the &quot;snake pit&quot;. She was an avid, some might say compulsive, volunteer staunchly supporting many organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Oxley Nature Center (Guide), World Neighbors, Campfire Girls (where she served as a group leader for 12 years) and a Life-Loyal membership in Delta Delta Delta sorority among many, many others. Her expansive love of service to her community was surpassed only by the depth of her love for, and commitment to, her family. They benefited relentlessly from her warm, gentle spirit and her enthusiastic support ranging from endless hours of playing catch, active educational support, spiritual guidance by example, tireless help with any and all projects her children or grandchildren could think up, to an uncanny knack for knowing if things were wrong before her children or grandchildren ever did. Through all these many years of caring support and completely unconditional useful love she quite characteristically and humbly insisted that it was her children that &quot;raised her&quot;. Marilee is predeceased by her parents, her brother, Walter E. Moore and her husband, Syrus E. Chambers. She is survived by her daughter, Susan, and husband, Kyle Toal, their three children, John, Coralee and Ben; her son, Jeff, and wife, Pamela, and their two children, Amanda and Rachel. Marilee will lie in state 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Monday at the Ninde Brookside Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at Centenary United Methodist Church, 631 N. Denver, Tulsa, Oklahoma with interment at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Centenary United Methodist Church, 631 North Denver, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74106, and Habitat for Humanity, Oxley Nature Center or World Neighbors.&nbsp; CLick below: <span style="font-family: 'calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'times new roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'times new roman'; mso-ansi-language: en-us; mso-fareast-language: en-us; mso-bidi-language: ar-sa"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</span></span> <span style="font-family: 'helvetica','sans-serif'; color: #721819; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'times new roman'; mso-ansi-language: en-us; mso-fareast-language: en-us; mso-bidi-language: ar-sa"><a href="http://www.epartnersingiving.com/marileemoorechambers" target=" http://www.epartnersingiving.com/marileemoorechambers">http://www.epartnersingiving.com/marileemoorechambers</a></span> Ninde Brookside 918.742.5556 www.ninde.com <p></p>