Mary Ellen Latham, 98, of Norman, formerly of McAlester, passed away Sunday, April 17, in Norman.  The family will welcome friends for visitation on Thursday, April 21, at Brumley-Mills Funeral Home from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.  Funeral services will be Friday, April 22, at 10:00 a.m. at Brumley-Mills Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Harriette Leigh officiating.  Burial will follow at Memory Gardens Memorial Park.  Memorial donations can be made to The Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org or 800-272-3900.

Mary Ellen Latham was born on Dec. 19, 1923 in Hartshorne to Isaac Robert Huddleston and Charlsie Lillian (Slayton) Huddleston.  She grew up there and graduated from Hartshorne High school in 1941. She married George Ernest Bridgwater in 1942; he preceded her in death in 1971.  They had lived in California for several years, where Mary Ellen began her career with AT&T as a telephone operator.  When they moved back to McAlester she was able to transfer and continue her work with the phone company until retiring in 1971. She went back to work in 1974 as the administrative secretary at the Kiamichi Vo-Tech School until 1984.  Then, (for fun) she worked at the J. C. Penney jewelry counter for several years, before finally winding down her working days at the Army Ammunition Plane for about 10 years.  Mary Ellen remarried in 1986, to Harold Latham, and he preceded her in death in 2008.  Mary Ellen was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and PEO, a public education organization.  Mary was the consummate hostess and loved to entertain friends in her home.  She also loved to dance, and she and Ernie were long-time members of the Saturday Night Dance Club at the McAlester Country Club.

Mary Ellen is survived by her children, George Ernest Bridgwater, Jr. and wife Sheila, John Downey Bridgwater and wife Kerri, and Dawna Dhaenens and husband Jim; grandchildren, Dr. Jennifer Chancellor and husband Dr. Billy Hall, Dr. Holly Cuthbertson and husband Robert, Libby Sarwinski and husband Connor, Aaron Kinzie and wife Elizabeth, Christopher Bridgwater, and Paige Dhaenens; great grandchildren, Vivienne, Blythe, Wesley-Grey, Brooks, Tatum, Elizabeth, Claire, Hannah, Henry, Jordan, Caden, Emma and Tessa.  She was also preceded in death by her parents, 1 brother, and 3 sisters.