Mary Ellen Askew, 78, passed away at High Noon on Friday, April 30, 2021, in Wichita Falls.

Funeral services will be on Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 2pm at First Presbyterian Church in Wichita Falls with Rev. Michael Hansen, Senior Pastor, and Rev. Michael Morris, Assistant Pastor, officiating.  Burial will be in the Dallas – Fort Worth National Cemetery on Monday, May 10, 2021 at 1pm.

The family receives visitors on Friday, May 7, 2021 from 6–7pm at Lunn's Colonial Funeral Home, Wichita Falls.

Mary was born June 12, 1942 in Atlantic, Iowa, the first of four children of Paul and Dolores Marshall.  She graduated from Atlantic High School in 1960 where she was a competitive swimmer and a superb golfer.  In the summers she was a life guard at the Atlantic Golf and Country Club.  In August 1960, she entered the Saint Francis Hospital Radiologic Technologist Training Course in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  In August, 1962 she received her full certification and began work as an X-Ray Technician.

During her training at the hospital, Mary met a young Air Force First Lieutenant, Glenn Askew, newly assigned to Ent Air Force Base in the Springs.  They met at a Christmas Dinner and Dance at the hospital.  A budding romance ensued and they were married in the Ent Air Force Base Chapel by the Command Chaplain of the Air Defense Command on December 15, 1962.

Mary was an outstanding Air Force wife who participated in Officers' Wives Clubs at all her husband's assignments.  Their first overseas assignment was to Paris, France where her husband had been appointed Director of Administration for the Defense Communications Agency - European Area.  They sailed on the USS United States with their new 3-month-old daughter on September 24, 1964.  Other assignments were to Stuttgart, Germany, Los Angeles, California, where Captain Askew was an Assistant Professor in the Air Force ROTC Department at Occidental College.  Later assignments were to MacDill AFB, Florida, Clark Air Base, Philippines, and finally Sheppard Air Force Base, where Lieutenant Colonel Askew completed his Air Force career as the Center Executive Officer to four Center Commanders from 1976 to 1981.  In 1987 when her children were starting their college studies, Mary joined the Clinics of North Texas as a Radiological Transcriptionist for the X-Ray Department.  She retired from the Clinic in 2001.

Mary was an artist at heart and loved projects.  She took painting lessons, but her talent was not confined to just paintings on the wall.  She also had opinions about interior design.  Her husband came home one day to find she had taken down the wall between the living room and the den with a circular saw.  Fortunately, it was an architectural success and proved she was an open floorplan visionary before it was an HGTV trend.  She loved fashion, especially designer shoes.  As a daughter of a high-end shoe store proprietor, it was in her DNA.

Mary was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Wichita Falls with her family.  She and her husband were active in the Christian Fellowship Sunday School class and great supporters of their children's youth activities at the church and in their schools.  She and her husband were members of the Wichita Falls Country Club and supporters of the Wichita Falls Symphony and Dallas Opera.  In the last several years Mary became a lover of the Jerry Gaither Southern Gospel TV program and learned to fully enjoy good gospel music.  Mary was a past president of the Ladies of Rotary and a Paul Harris Fellow, a member with her husband in the monthly "Happy Hour" Club, and a loving sister of Chapter BE, PEO.

She is survived by her husband, Glenn, and her three children: Annette Burgart and her husband Dennis of Alexandria, Virginia; Vanessa Fortier and husband Steve of Richmond, Virginia; and Glenn III and wife Jenna of Southlake, Texas; Eight grandchildren, Lieutenant Taylor Burgart, US Navy of Whidbey Island, Washington; Marshall Louise Phillips and husband Micah of Brooklyn, New York; Chloe and Simone Fortier of Richmond, Virginia; and Jacob, Audrey, Andrew and John Askew of Southlake, Texas; Brothers-in-law Sam Spinello of Rancho Mirage, California; Mark Askew and wife Sylvia of the Askew Ranch in Fannin County, Texas; Richard Askew of East Windsor, New Jersey; Sisters-in-law Pat Marshall of Atlantic, Iowa; and Beth Marshall of Chula Vista, California and many other dear friends and relatives.  She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Phil and Tom, and sister Julie.

The family extends their sincerest gratitude to all the healthcare professionals and caregivers at Rolling Meadows Retirement Community and the Gables.

Mary was a tireless, selfless, genuine, and loving wife and mother, always so full of grace and optimism.  We will all greatly miss her beauty, laughter, and infectious smile, but are so grateful our sweet Mary / Nanny has received her angel's wings.

A life well lived, and a job well done.  Rest in Peace and enjoy Heaven.

If desired, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church Foundation of Wichita Falls, 3601 Taft, Wichita Falls, Texas 76308 or to Rolling Meadows Foundation, 3006 McNiel, Wichita Falls, Texas 76309.