Mary Charlotte (Mere) Manschreck Cantrell, 88, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family after a lengthy battle with lung cancer, on Monday, January 27th, 2025.  She was born in Oklahoma City and lived in the Krebs area her entire life.

Like the entire Manschreck family, Mere worked hard and played harder.  She was known in her younger years for her athletic ability on the softball field and her success of being a lefty at the bowling alley.

For more than 70 years, she worked as a bookkeeper for the McAlester Stockyards. She was also a bookkeeper at Chad Dunham's Accounting Office and Kern & Company Accounting Office.  In addition to these jobs, she worked from home keeping the books for Dr. Chris Manschreck, C & M Cattle Company and Harper Cattle Company.  Even after retirement, she could be found at her kitchen table with a calculator, balancing a bank statement and making journal entries.

Her commitment, compassion, and love for her family was unwavering.  When you heard Mere say "well skudder", you knew someone just banged a knee or had an accident.  She never minded paying the entry fee for her grandkids in the family blackjack tournaments and never expected to be paid back.  Holidays were very special to Mere.  She organized family teams for softball in the pasture, red rover and volleyball in the front yard, and the annual Easter egg hunt.   There was never a doubt who was in charge when she said "get out of the kitchen and put the rolls in the oven. It's time to eat."

A memorable trip was splitting Queens at the blackjack table and winning the Tunica Casino Blackjack tournament.  Other big highlights were when she won the $10,000 drawing at the 2003 McAlester Downtown Holiday Raffle and won a $2,250 payout at the slot machine in 2009.

Mere is survived by her children Leah Wiseman, Leroy Cantrell and wife Cindy, sister Lou Harper and husband Eddie, brother-in-law Dale Cantrell and wife Linda, sisters-in-law Gale Painter and husband Dale, and Loretta Cantrell.  She is also survived by grandchildren Colby Stufflebean and wife Nicole, Jordan Wiseman and wife Brittney, Connor Cantrell and wife Kimberly, Mallory Tecmire and husband Johnathan, BJ Wiseman and wife DeDe.  Great-grandchildren include Taylor Hall and husband Tyler, Alexis Stufflebean, Jade Wiseman, Declan Cantrell, Bailey Cantrell, Ivy Tecmire, Wyatt Tecmire, Stormi Glaze and husband Nick, Sierra Wiseman, Slate Wiseman, Taryn Biggs and husband Justin, Tyler Spears and wife Ashley.  Mere was blessed with four great-great grandchildren with one on the way. She is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years Homer Cantrell, parents Fred and Ruby Manschreck, sisters Peggy Gravitt, Sue Malone, Jonnye Workman, brother Dr. Chris Manschreck, cousin Jean Ann Lee, son-in-law Jack Wiseman, granddaughter Jackualine Wiseman, brothers-in-law Jim Malone, Buddy Workman, Bob Cantrell, Butch Cantrell, Dennis Cantrell, and sisters-in-law Wilma Tate and June Browne.

The family would like to thank Kim Holt, Mary Robson, Donna Oliver and Lauren Lee for the care and support given to Mere during these past few months

Visitation will be held from 6:30 pm until 7:30 pm on Thursday, January 30, 2025 at Brumley-Mills Funeral Home in McAlester.  A Celebration of Life service will be held 1:00 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2025 at Brumley-Mills Funeral Home Chapel in McAlester. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Memorial Park Cemetery.