Obituary of Maryann Beene
Mary Ann Ruth Santerre was born in Palmdale, California, on November 4, 1938, daughter of Herbert Lewis Santerre and Emily Rebecca (Pierce) Santerre. Her beloved siblings included brothers, Jim, Dallas, Tom, Bill, Mike, Paul, Danny, and Trevon, and sisters, Emily, Lois, Ruth, Rebecca, Linda, and Marteen. The family moved to Barstow, CA, where Maryann attended school and then met Joseph McCaney Beene while he was stationed in the Navy at the Marine Logistics Base in Barstow. In September, 1955, they eloped and were married at The Little Chapel on the Corner in Las Vegas, NV. They settled in McAlester in Joe’s home state of Oklahoma. Soon after, they opened Beene Dental Laboratory, a business they ran together for 20+ years. They had three children: Joseph Lee, Jeffrey Lewis and Jonathan Eric Beene.
Maryann was active in Cub Scouts, PTA, and other school and municipal organizations. The family enjoyed boating, camping and archery club. They made great memories throughout the years in McAlester with Delilah and Gerald Loy, Amy and Gerald Ellison, and many other families. Maryann loved entertaining and was famous for her delicious, authentic enchiladas, and helping introduce the small town to avocados in the 1960s. Maryann was a talented writer, artist, and piano player. In addition to being a homemaker, she worked as writer for the local newspapers, and was twice elected as councilwoman to the 3rd Ward in McAlester.
Maryann married Devan Sharbrough in 1989 and expanded her family with Devan’s children, Devan Sharbrough III and Christine Sharbrough. Maryann and Devan attended the University of Central Oklahoma in Ada, studying pre-law, and then graduated with a law degree from the University of Tulsa. She and Devan were officers in the Tulsa Power Squadron, an organization dedicated to boater safety and education. In 1989, they completed a bucket list item by sailing their cabin cruiser from Sallisaw, OK, down the waterway to the Mississippi River to New Orleans, up the Eastern seaboard, and southeast via inland waterways. She and Devan owned and operated several small businesses in Tulsa and Sapulpa, including laundries and liquor stores.
One of Maryann’s greatest joys was spending time with her family including her ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She loved treating the family to dinners at local restaurants. She also loved her many dogs who were her beloved companions through the years.
Maryann passed away December 4, 2022, at St. Simeon’s senior community in Tulsa after a long struggle with complications from stroke and dementia.
Services January 9, 2:00 PM at St Aidan’s Episcopal Church 4045 N Martin Luther King Blvd, Tulsa, OK 74106.
Memorial donations can be made to the Saint Simeon’s foundation in Maryann’s name. Go to: https://saintsimeons.org/foundation/