Delaware County Murder Victim Remembered As Pillar Of Her Community

Friends want to remember the life, not the death, of a woman police said was murdered earlier this month by her husband in the town of Jay.

Mary Hackathorn was known as a generous woman who donated her money and time to several organizations because she was committed to helping people in her community have a better life.

Hackathorn’s friends remember her as Mary Ann Kelly, the girl who grew up in Jay, Oklahoma with hard working parents who owned businesses and cattle. Hackathorn and a core group of friends went all the way through school together, left for college then came back and continued their friendships as they found their careers, had families and were committed to make their part of the world, a better place.

Hackathorn and Kathy Dunaway-Knight have been best friends since birth.

“It's been unimaginable and continues to be, we're still in shock,” Dunaway-Knight said.

Dunaway-Knight said Hackathorn’s two greatest traits were her strong faith in God and her servant's heart. She felt empathy for others and always wanted to help. Another friend since first grade, Johnnie Earp, agrees.

"Her spirituality was second to none. When we had a crisis, you could always count on Mary being at your side," said Earp.

Hackathorn served on numerous boards and gave her time to the hospital, the chamber and the schools, even helping lead a community effort to build a new playground in Jay.

She never had children, so cherished all her animals and she'd endured a lot, including the death of both her parents and the sudden death of her first husband.

"Through the entire time, she never asked God why, she remained faithful and trusting that God was in the situation. That is what we have to do now," said Dunaway-Knight.

They hope to continue Hackathorn's legacy of giving back to others and they hope, through her example, others will also come to know the Lord. In the meantime, they are finding a way to move forward without her.

"Unbelievable tragedy that we'll not, we will recover from it, but we'll never be the same," said Dunaway-Knight.

Hackathorn’s husband is in the Delaware County jail without bond, for first-degree murder.