Billie Ruth Roberts

Billie Ruth Turnbull Roberts, retired County Clerk for Bryan County, died on August 13, 2016 in Durant, Oklahoma. Mrs. Roberts was born on the Turnbull Ranch, east of Caddo, on July 26, 1920 to the late William Perkins and Ruth (Park) Turnbull. She was the last surviving sibling of brothers Timothy (Buck) and Wilman (Poncho) Turnbull and sister Jean Turnbull. On November 22, 1936, she married her husband of 42 years, Jack B. Roberts. They made their home in Roberta, where they brought up their four children. Mrs. Roberts attended Blue Schools, Russell Training School in Durant and Chilocco Indian School in Newkirk, Oklahoma. Mrs. Roberts had a lifelong love for music and was pianist at Roberta Baptist Church for a number of years. In the 1950s, she formed the Texoma Ladies Quartet with Geneva Loftis, Lorene Anderson and Eva Thorton; they sang together for over 30 years. A homemaker for many years, Mrs. Roberts began working as a deputy to the County Clerk of Bryan County and was later elected County Clerk in her own right; a position she held for 17 years. Upon retirement, Mrs. Roberts served the Choctaw Nation for over 20 years as a board member of the Choctaw Nation Housing Authority. Mrs. Roberts was a member of Roberta Baptist Church, Order of the Eastern Star, and the Ohoyohoma Club. She was a former board member of the Three Valley Museum and former officer in the County Clerk's Association of Oklahoma. In addition to her husband, parents and siblings, Mrs. Roberts was preceded in death by son, Timothy and granddaughter, Karen Thomas. Mrs. Roberts is survived by son Billy Jack and wife Pat of Roberta, OK and daughters Rutha Thomas and husband, Lyman of Wellington, KS and Kay Green and husband Jimmy of Roberta, OK grandchildren Steve Roberts and wife Kay Lynn of Roberta, OK, Tracie Falcone and husband Keith of Austin, TX, Taresa Heimer and husband Eric Heimer of Wellington, KS, Bill Roberts of Maine, Annette Goodwin and husband Mike of Roberta, OK, Michael Green and wife Cristal of Durant, OK, Richard Roberts and wife Tina of Durant, OK and Dana Roberts of Durant, OK ,11 great grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Thursday, August 18, 2016 at First Baptist Church in Durant. Interment will follow at Highland Cemetery with Bill Roberts, Michael Green, Steve Roberts, Richard Roberts, Adam Nichols, Eric Heimer, Jimmy (Pistol) Roberts, Jack Roberts, and Keith Falcone serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Ted Dosh, Larry Robinson, and Joe Wilson. The family will accept friends at the funeral home Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the charity of your choice or the Roberta Baptist Church.

Billie Ruth Roberts

July 26, 1920 - August 13, 2016