Mary Ruth Deal, Owasso, Okla., went to be with her Lord on Monday, April 21, 2008. 

Mary was born Oct. 11, 1926 in Stella, to the late William A. and Rosetta (West) Carden.

Mary and her husband, Elmer, have been missionaries for more than 50 years. It was from their church, Tulsa Baptist Temple, that they embarked on a lifelong ministry to the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo. She was a 1957 graduate of Baptist Bible College in Springfield; attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and the University of Brussels in Belgium. In 2006 she received an honorary doctor of humanities degree from her alma mater, Baptist Bible College. 

Surviving are her  husband of  61 years, Elmer Lee Deal; her sister, Muriel Parsons, Sun City, Ariz.; several nieces and nephews, including Rev. Don Carden, Vinita, Okla. and Evelyn  Martin, Springfield, who were raised by Mary and Elmer.

Family will receive friends from 6 – 8 p.m. Thursday at Freeman Harris Funeral Home. 
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m.,  Friday, at Tulsa Baptist Temple, Tulsa, with graveside services at 3:30 p.m. in the Owsley Union Cemetery, Stella, under the direction of the Freeman Harris Funeral Home, Tulsa.  

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to the Congo Bible Baptist Fellowship at BBFI, P. O. Box 191, Springfield, Mo. 65801-0191.

Family and friends may leave online condolences at www.freemanharris.com.