Marie Aitken

Marie Adeline (Corbin) Aitken

September 27, 1930 - December 25, 2018

Marie Aitken, 88, of Buffalo, Oklahoma, went to her heavenly home surrounded by her family on Christmas Day. Born in Woods County, Oklahoma, to Jessie and Bessie Corbin, Marie’s dedication to her family and sense of responsibility was evident from a young age when she took over care of her two younger sisters at just 6 years old. She quickly adapted to her new motherly role and was an invaluable part of her entire family’s lives. Marie met the love of her life, Howard Aitken, in 1946 at a town dance in Alva, Oklahoma. Over the next year, Howard and Marie fell madly in love. On March 15th, 1947, they ran away together to Medicine Lodge, Kansas, to get married and begin their life together as one. Together they had three children: Howard Terrance “Terry,” Teresa Marie, and Steven Gilbert. Howard and Marie shared 71 loving years of marriage together. Marie is best remembered as a woman who could do anything. She was the ultimate home-maker, who also had no issue getting her hands dirty alongside the men on the farm. She was everyone’s first call for questions on recipes, and she could sew nicer clothes than you’d find in any department store downtown. She was a loving wife, a devoted mother and grandmother, and the well-loved Matriarch of a large and happy family. Most importantly, Marie was a faithful servant of God. Marie was preceded in death by five of her brothers and sisters, her son Steve Aitken, her daughter Teresa Catlin, and her great-grandson Tyler Aitken. She is survived by her husband Howard, her sister Melba Ratcliff and brother-in-law Jerry of Jamul, CA; her son Terry and his wife Claudette of Buffalo; her son-in-law Bob Catlin of Buffalo; daughter-in-law Dixie Aitken of Cozad, NE; her grandchildren Celesta Hernandez (with husband Joe and sons Joe and Jacob), Steve Aitken (with wife Stacy and children Brittney and Blake), Susan Seevers (with husband Dennis and children Natalie, Allison, Riley and Matthew), Shannon Aitken (with wife Shawna), Jennifer Bridenstine (with husband Clint and children Carson, Jillian, Jesse, Jaci and Jackson), Kristy Strohmyer (with husband Jason and son Christopher), Amy Pemberton (with husband Jay), Gilbert Aitken (with wife Allison), Rebecca Crouch (with husband Brian, and children Kimberly, Madison, Gabriel, Brandon, and Xander), and Chelsey McGonigal (with husband Sean).  We are comforted by Marie’s devout faith in Jesus Christ. We can only imagine her joy in reuniting with her son Steve and daughter Teresa in Heaven.

Marie’s special way to say goodbye to her loved ones was “I love you. I’ll see you when the moon shines over the mountain.” So now we say to you, Marie, “We love you, and we’ll see you when the moon shines over the mountain.”

In honoring Marie’s final wishes, a memorial service will not be held. Donations in Marie Aitken’s memory can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.