Ruth Ella Hannan

Ruth Ella Hannan (née Medell) was surrounded by family and died peacefully in Texoma Medical Center on July 25, 2016, in Sherman, Texas at the age of 86. Ruth is survived by her three sons and their wives, Bobby A. (Bob) and Karen Hannan of Broken Arrow, OK, John S. (Steve) and Michelle Hannan of Capulin, CO and Richard L. and Marta Hannan of Lafayette, LA. She is survived by a brother-in- law Nathan White and by grandchildren Dr. Natalia Hannan, Veronica Hannan and Kael Greco, James and Teri-Rae Hannan, Mark and Nicole Hannan, Melissa and Danny Perry and Christine and David Flores plus four great grandchildren with two more on the way. She has twelve surviving nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband and five siblings, Kenneth, Mary Lou (Speer), Yvonne (Harmon), Richard and Lavern (White). Ruth was born on March 30, 1930 in Bennington, Oklahoma to Everett Lee Medell and Elvia Medell (Coburn). She graduated from Bennington High School and initially attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University. During her senior year, in 1950, she married John Hannan Jr, and moved to their farm located southeast of Durant, OK. They left the farm in 1952 and lived in the towns of Sunray, Gruver and Perryton in the Texas panhandle. Despite having three young boys at home, Ruth returned to college after moving to Gruver, earning her Bachelor degree in Education from Oklahoma Panhandle State University. Meanwhile, she became a substitute teacher in Gruver ISD until they transferred to Perryton with John’s job. Ruth then began working for Perryton ISD as a 3rd grade teacher, where she remained until she retired in 1989. After retiring, the couple moved their home to Calera, OK until their respective deaths. Ruth’s children remember her as a loving, hardworking, generous and independent mother who pursued excellence and encouraged everyone around her to do the same. Ruth loved to do quilting, in which she won several awards. She did oil painting and loved to travel and remodel her house. She was passionate about her relationship with Jesus Christ. She loved growing flowers. She was a generous, witty, fun-loving individual who loved playing games such as 42 and Bridge. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Colbert for 17 years. She love her Sunday School friends and taught kindergarten to adults Sunday School all of her adult life. She was both a student and a teacher in Bible Study Fellowship for over ten years. She was a member of Durant Garden Club, Newcomers of Durant, Red Hat Club and several Bridge clubs. There is a reception at Brown’s Funeral Service in Durant, OK from 6 to 8 pm on Friday July 29. Her funeral is scheduled for Saturday July 30 at 1 pm at First Baptist Church of Colbert, OK, with Dr. Roddy Arnold officiating. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Ruth’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the First Baptist Church Building Fund at 307 N. Franklin, Colbert, Oklahoma 7473. The family would like to thank Ruth’s friends for their prayers, visits and phone calls as well as the doctors and nurses at TMC Hospital for their wonderful care and dedication during the last three weeks of her life. Special thanks go to her cousin Zeni Dill and her friend, Jeff Woodard for all they did for her. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.brownsfuneralservice.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Brown’s Funeral Service, Durant.

Ruth Ella Hannan

March 30, 1930 - July 25, 2016