Mattie Ellen Tolley

Mattie Ellen Tolley was born September 10, 1943 in Chelsea, Oklahoma to the late Robert Bryant and Artie Ravena (Cady) Tolley. She died Sunday, December 30, 2018 in Davis, at the age of 75 years, 2 months & 19 days.

Mattie grew up in Chelsea, graduating from Stroud High School in 1961. She attended Oklahoma City University prior to attending and graduating from St. Francis School of Nursing in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She continued her education at the University of Oklahoma where she earned a Master’s Degree in Nursing. Mattie spent 17 years teaching Nursing at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Although Nursing was a major part of her life, she also devoted 15 years of life serving as a missionary to Kenya with the United Methodist Church. Following her retirement in 2005, Mattie moved to Davis to be near her sister Lou and her family.

Survivors include one niece, Linda (Ensminger) Reed & husband Gil of Tyler, TX; three nephews, Larry Ensminger & wife Kathy, Leslie Ensminger & wife Celeste, both of Davis and Layne Ensminger of Ardmore; two daughters of the heart, Flora Mutunga of San Fransico, CA and Fridah Mubichi-Kut of St. Louis, MO; one sister of the heart, Zee Lewis of Oakland, CA; bonus family member, Phyl Foster of Davis; as well as three great nephews, two great nieces, to great-great nephews and three great-great niece.

In addition to her parents, Mattie was preceded in death by her sister & brother-in-law, Mary Lou and PeeWee Ensminger.