Ellen Kirk Vanderslice "MaMa" of Tulsa Oklahoma went to be with her Lord on February 3, 2023 at the age of 103. MaMa was born in Oklahoma City on August 28, 1919. She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul Judson Kirk and Moddie Nola Kirk and her brother Jud Kirk as well as her husband of 52 years, B.D. Vanderslice.
MaMa was a talented musician and deaf education teacher. She inspired those around her with her tenacious spirit, quick wit, and love for her Lord.
She was the first OU woman band member to march with the band in 1941 at the Texas/OU game. She was the first woman to receive outstanding band member her senior year at OU. She also performed in the Oklahoma City symphony and taught band and orchestra. When MaMa got married in 1945, she was a Pastor's wife and became the choir director for all the churches that her husband pastored. She learned sign language to interpret her husband's sermons for the deaf members of the church. This led to her second career, which was teaching deaf students in the Dallas Independent School District. She developed a hand-bell choir method for her deaf students and they performed all over the Dallas area.

When her husband passed away in 1997, MaMa began playing her beloved trumpet again. This led her to play in the First Baptist Church Dallas Orchestra. She went on numerous international orchestra mission trips and even performed in Carnegie Hall with FBC orchestra and was given a solo.
Her entire life was spent impacting others. Just three weeks ago, she was honored by current OU band members when they found out that the first woman marching band member was still alive. She was given an impromptu concert at her residence which was a delight that was captured and shared by her family and was then picked up by local news outlets. The fact that she was now "famous" was a pure joy and a crescendo to a life well lived.