Marie Whittle Zellner

Marie Zellner, 76, left her earthly home on Saturday, January 25, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. Her son was by her side. Marie and her two siblings were raised on the East coast. She met her first husband while in college for her undergraduate degree. They had two children together. After moving to Oklahoma, Marie received her master’s degree and began teaching Special Education. She married James “Jim” Zellner and helped to raise his two youngest daughters. Over the years, she dedicated her time and resources to helping others. She loved her family and her students. Marie retired after 23 years of teaching. She and Jim built an A-frame house at the lake and enjoyed their life together until he passed away in 2012. Marie enjoyed crafting and was very involved with a charitable organization in her town. She made many friends there as well as at her local Episcopal church. Marie loved her community and loved living at the lake. She spent many hours talking to her mom on the phone and watching birds through her windows with her dachshund in her lap. She loved her little dog, and she loved birds of all kinds. Her wrap-around porch was full of bird feeders and bird swings which meant she always had plenty of birds to watch. Marie especially loved the hummingbirds that migrate through town each year. She loved them so much that she got a tattoo of a hummingbird on her hand which was always a fun conversation piece. Most of all, she loved Jesus. She enjoyed hiding mini-Jesus figures everywhere she went for people to find and loved giving them away. Preceded in death by her husband, Jim; father, Henry; and stepfather, Wally. Survived by her children, Matt & wife Sherry, and Wednesday; 2 grandchildren, Kylee and Kaelynn; 4 great-grandchildren, Sophia, Sylvia, Cynthia, and one on the way; her mother, Eleanor; siblings, Arthur John & wife Susan, Karen & husband Ed; niece, Elisa & husband Dirk, Nathan, and Shaun; great-nephew, Noah; step-children, Nicole, Vanessa, Jim Jr. & wife Diane, Fred, Larry, Mark & wife Joanne, Jonathan, Marta & husband Richard, Charmaine & husband Jere; 22 step-grandchildren including Chance, Taylor, Briana, Devin, and Jillian; 18 step-great-grandchildren including Nova and one on the way; 1 step-great-great grandchild; step-mother, Martha; former spouse, Wayne & wife Scarlett; close family friend, Elias; and the many friends she made while on this earth. Loved by many, Marie will be greatly missed but always remembered.