In Loving Remembrance of Marie Frances Bush
Marie Frances Walker Bush was born on December 7, 1940, in Weleetka, Oklahoma to Ollie and Kathryn Carnell Walker and is the oldest of ten children. She married Frank Wesley Bush Sr. She has two children and two grandchildren.
She attended Clearview Public Schools and graduated in 1958. Marie attended Langston University for two years and started working at Weleetka Hospital. While working at the hospital, she began nursing school in 1974. She completed her degree and began working at Okfuskee County Hospital. Later, she began attending East Central University in Ada three days a week where she graduated with a B. A.in Sociology and Rehabilitation. Marie continue her education and in 1997, she earned a degree in Education of Religion from Bacone College in Muskogee.
Marie worked for the State Institution for Boys in Boley, Oklahoma for several years as a Juvenile Counselor. When the boy’s school was made into a state prison, Marie trained to work at the prison. She enrolled in Social and Behavior Counseling courses. Eventually, Marie was promoted to Sergeant. In the 1980s, Marie began writing articles for the Clearview news section of the Weleetkan Newspaper. This section provided those who had moved from Clearview and others the opportunity to stay in touch with news from Clearview.
In 1980, Marie was elected as Mayor of Clearview. As mayor she reincorporated the Town of Clearview and served the town for 18 years as the first female mayor of Clearview. Being a person who believed in contributing to the community, Marie helped make the Town of Clear-view one of the most well-known of the historically all black towns of Oklahoma.
While as mayor, Marie used the school gym (Clearview Community Center) to hold town meetings. She wrote for and received grants to build a community building and pave some streets. The community building served the community in providing space for family reunions, funerals, family parities, school reunions and other events. Today, the Main Street Community Building is used for town meetings, parties, family gatherings, club meetings, church events, and other events.
In 1980, the Alford family organized an all-Black rodeo. It became the third large in the state of which Marie assisted with publicity activities of the rodeo. Marie served on numerous boards, the Ladies Industrial Club, Ladies Auxiliary Club, Veteran’s Ladies Club, Ladies Beautification Club, C.H.A.R.M.E.D. and the Clearview Community Improvement Corporation (CCIC) Organization and the Clearview School Alumni. She served as president of the Clearview Cemetery Board. Maire was also a member of the church of the Living God and served as Deaconess, Superintendent, secretary and church clerk. She was also president to the Mission Church Program.
Mrs. Bush was a member of clubs and organization on the state and national level, such as, the NAACP, Oklahoma and National Conference of Black Mayors, Southern Poverty Law Center, and the AARP Organization.
Marie was called home on January 13, 2019. She was preceded in death by parents, Ollie Leonard Walker Jr. and Kathryn Carnell Walker; husband, Frank Wesley Bush; two brothers, Ralph and George; five sisters, Thelma, Jean Ester, Marvie, Eva Mae and Vinita Jo; five stepchildren, Harriet Bush, James Bush, Glen Dale Bush, Elwood Bush, and Frank Wesley Bush Jr.
She leaves to cherish her memory: her sister, Eunice (Run-dell) Edison of Lawton, Ok; her brother, Billy Ray Walker of Clearview, OK; her daughter, Jackie (Glenn) Street of Seminole, OK; her son Ronald aka “Chris” Bush of Clearview, OK; two grandchildren, Theran (Markeveric) Hernandez of Seminole, OK, Royce (Brook) Street of Maud, OK; 8 grandchildren: Reese, Vcake. Braxton, Akeya, Amerikus, Koi, John, Averi, her stepson, Peter (Helen) Bush of Clearview, IK; 4 step daughters-in-law, Ceanly Bush, Dorothy Bush, Patricia Bush and Jerlene Bush; numerous step grandchildren and step great great-grandchildren, and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and many others that she adored.
A viewing will be held at The Church of the Living God, Temple #99, in Clearview, Oklahoma on Friday, January 25th from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Funeral services for Marie Frances Walker Bush will be held on Saturday, January 26th at 12:00 p.m. at the Clearview Community Center at 112 West Douglas, Clearview, Oklahoma.
Interment will be held at Clearview Cemetery in Clearview, Oklahoma under the direction of Biglow Funeral Directors of Okmulgee, Oklahoma.