KTLR Radio mourns the loss of longtime show contributor, Dr. Mary Elizabeth Schrick, who passed away Wednesday morning, April 10, 2024. She truly was an Okie from Muskogee where she was born on May 23, 1946. She was the first of eight children born to Helen Dee Smith and William Clarence Smith.
Dr. Mary met her lifelong partner, Larry Gene Schrick, while both were students at Oklahoma State University. After graduating, they embarked on a journey of teaching, with Larry focusing on vocational agriculture and Dr. Mary educating grades 1-6 in a one-room schoolhouse in Nebraska. Their shared passion for education and community laid the foundation for their future endeavors.
In 1971, Dr. Mary and Larry settled in Chattanooga, Oklahoma, where Dr. Mary began her remarkable journey as an entrepreneur. She established and managed three successful child care centers and a thriving insurance agency in Lawton, Oklahoma.
Driven by her profound interest in holistic and integrative medicine, Dr. Mary pursued advanced studies, earning a Ph.D. in Nutritional Science and a Doctorate Degree in Naturopathy. With an unwavering belief in the body’s innate ability to heal itself through proper nutrition and care, she dedicated herself to educating others. In 1998, Dr. Mary launched her daily radio talk show, “The Third Opinion,” which aired for three hours a day, six days a week for over two decades. Additionally, she founded StarrWalker, a nutraceutical product line, and established two retail stores, “The Doorway to Health I & 11,” a distribution company, “The Third Opinion, Inc.,” and her integrative healthcare practice, Full Circle Health in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Dr. Mary’s guiding principles, “God made our bodies to heal themselves” and “Test, Don’t Guess,” underscored her commitment to proactive health management. She was a pioneer in interpreting extensive bloodwork to detect early signs of potential ailments or illnesses often overlooked by conventional medicine. Through her radio show, practice, and products, Dr. Mary positively impacted countless lives, empowering others to attain optimal health.
Dr. Mary’s profound intellect was matched only by her boundless compassion for her patients and listeners. Many attribute their healing to the combination of her natural health protocols and her powerful healing prayers.
A devout Christian, Dr. Mary found solace and inspiration in studying the scriptures. Her well-worn Bible bears testament to the countless hours she spent immersed in the Word of God.