Ruth Sue (Summers) Slanker

Ruth Sue (Summers) Slanker Ruth Sue (Summers) Slanker was born on December 4, 1936 to Rueben T. Summers and Dorthea (Webb) Summers in their tiny home located at 115 S. Delaware in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. She passed away Sunday morning, September 11, 22016 at the age of 79. She is survived by her husband, Ed Slanker, one daughter, Judy Sydebotham and husband Tim of Ochelata, two sons, David Slanker of Bartlesville and Daniel Slanker and wife Dawn of California, one brother, Glen Summers and wife Teresa of Stillwater, eight grandchildren, Dawn Baxstrom and husband Ashley, T.C. Sydebotham and wife Rikki, Natalie Sydebotham, Tyler Sydebotham and wife Megan, Casey Slanker and Xander Slanker, and two great grandchildren, Jagger Baxstrom and Timber Sydebotham. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Jack Summers. Friends and family that wish to call for visitation may do so at the Stumpff Funeral Home from 9:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Thursday and Friday and from 9:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. on Saturday. Ruth Sue grew up and received her education in Bartlesville graduating from College High School in 1955. After graduation she traveled across the United States selling Bibles and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. She also attended OSU college in Stillwater. She returned to her hometown to marry Ed Slanker in August of 1958. She and Ed made their home in Bartlesville and were the proud parents of three children: Judy, David and Daniel Slanker. While a fulltime homemaker, Ruth hosted a Wednesday night Bible study in her home, was active in Washington County home demonstration clubs and the county fair in Dewey. She taught numerous 4-H classes for the youth. She was an expert swimmer and loved the water. She taught many people to swim. She enjoyed raising chickens and goats and published monthly newsletters for “Chicken Chatter”. She was active in monthly chicken swaps held across Oklahoma and Kansas. She made many genuine friends throughout her adventures with chickens and goats. Later in life she returned to college and studied sociology and had a keen interest in chemistry. She had dozens of on-going science experiments all over the house, in the garage and out in the yard! Her mind was constantly being fed by the hundreds of informational books and Bibles she collected and read. She bought and remodeled homes around town accumulating several rent properties and was known to offer the homeless with temporary shelter. She volunteered her time at the Bartlesville Library to teach non-readers how to read; as she wanted everyone to experience the power of reading. She was tireless in her constant efforts to help the less privileged of her community. She loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren very much. Her grandchildren will remember her fondly as a spunky little woman that played card games with them, dressed up in homemade costumes, built forts and tents, read to them, wrote poems and stories, and encouraged the makings of inventions of all kinds. She was the best back scratcher in the world! She praised her grandchildren for who they were. She was famous for making French toast, scrambled eggs, macaroni and cheese, and huge glasses of chocolate milk. She woke up every morning with a big smile and always had something nice to say about people around her. Fancy clothes, hairstyles, and make-up were never of importance to her. She was her own kind of beautiful. As she aged, she became more and more comfortable with the simplicities of staying home. She went back to the same home she was born in. It was a place of peace and comfort to her. She spent hours reading, feeding the birds, and watching the squirrels frolicking in the yard. She loved hearing the “Toot-Toot” of the Kiddy Park train on a summer evening. Perhaps she found the greatest comfort of all in simply knowing her family was well. Most conversations drifted to treasured stories of the past. Time meant very little to her anymore. She felt complete in the things she had accomplished. Each time we visited her she greeted us with the same smile and we were hugged and told we were loved when we left. She was not afraid of death and had a complete understanding of God’s plan of salvation through His one and only son, Jesus Christ. She read and studied her Bible daily. She believed in the power of prayer and prayed with confidence about everything. She lived her life with boldness and zest to the very last day. A celebration of her life and legacy will be held at her birth place, 115 S. Delaware, on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 12:00 noon with Pastor Sherman Jaquess officiating. Dinner will be provided under a big white tent for friends and family that wish to honor her in this way. A memorial fund has been established and those who wish may send their contributions to the Washington County 4-H goat and chicken projects, P.O. Box 10, Dewey, Oklahoma, 74029. Friends and family who wish may sign the online guest book and leave condolences at www.stumpff.org. A special thank you goes out to current Matoaka Baptist Church members and Pastor Sherman Jaquess and wife, Lura, for their continued show of kindness by means of calls, meals, prayers, and words of comfort throughout this time.

Ruth Sue (Summers) Slanker

December 4, 1936 - September 11, 2016