Dora Mae Mitchell “Tacker”, age 99, passed away on Dec. 24, 2024. Mae was born Dec. 24, 1925 in Macomb, OK to Frank and Myrtle (Bartholomew) Banning. Mae graduated as Salutatorian at Macomb High School in 1942, then earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Oklahoma in 1953. In 1969, Mae completed her Master Degree in Special Education from Central State College. Mae and her first husband, C.J. Tacker, wed in 1945. Mae‘s teaching career started in 1943 in Little Axe, OK. She then dedicated the next 20 years of her career to teaching Special Education. Mae taught special education in Midwest City, at Shawnee Junior High, at Edmond Junior High, and later she served as a Principal at Faith 7 School in Shawnee for four years. In 1998, Mae met and married Bill Mitchell.
Mae is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Myrtle Banning; first husband, C.J. Tacker; daughter, Tammara Tacker; brothers, Harvey, Leo and Lester Banning, and step-son Michael Mitchell.
Survivors include her husband of the home, Bill Mitchell; son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Dana Tacker of Oklahoma City, OK; step-son and wife Danny and Jeri Mitchell of Maud, OK; step-daughter and husband, Janet and John Proodian of Palm Desert, CA; and step daughter-in-law Denise Mitchell of Dayton, OH; eight grandchildren; Six great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and other extended family and friends.
Services were held Dec. 28, 2024 at Cooper Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Jessica Higgins officiating. Burial followed at Brown Cemetery under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh.
