Obituary for Mary “Rosanne” Rhodes

Ponca City Now - September 17, 2021 4:43 pm

Mary “Rosanne” Rhodes

October 13, 1940 – September 15, 2021

It was on September 15, 2021, that I left y’all to go and see God. Hopefully my Guardian Angel led me there promptly, to lead my future life.

I came into this world on October 13, 1940. I was blessed to be chosen by my mother, Leona Rees Lane, and her sister, Myrtle Darland. Leona and her husband adopted me out of St. Joseph’s Orphanage. Our first residence was in Deer Creek, Oklahoma. In 1943, my mother and I moved to Ponca City to live with my grandmother, Anna Rees.

Time marched on and my life got very busy. I started out taking “expression lessons” at age 5. (This could be why I almost always got a “B” in deportment on my report cards. I would talk, talk, talk, always wanting to contribute.) During those early years, I was very fortunate to be able to learn to play the piano, take oodles of dancing lessons, and to sing with lots of talented friends.

School was very important to me. I attended St. Mary’s in Ponca City, Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio, Texas, and OSU in Stillwater. I then went to work for Conoco in Ponca City.

Here in Ponca I made wonderful friends, and we had great times together. We partied, went water and snow skiing-we called ourselves the “Bend-Ze-Nees Ski Club.” This group is still active. I enjoyed singing, so I joined the Sweet Adeline’s and sang in a quartet. If I must say so, we were pretty good! I loved music and played piano for the men’s choir at church.

I later transferred to Denver with Conoco where Tom Rhodes, my dearest husband, came into my life. Now, here is the definition of love: the dear fella missed the very first Super Bowl game to follow me around K-Mart to look for yarn!

Tom and I got married June 3, 1967 and moved back to Ponca City. Christina was born in January 1969. Mary Beth was born April 1971. They are the most wonderful daughters. They both married husbands who love them dearly. We are lucky to have them as part of the family. Tom returned to work at Conoco. At this time we built our own home, pretty much with our own hands.

Being a stay-at-home mom, Blue Birds, Camp Fire and sports were some of the things I did. While waiting around I knitted, crocheted and stitched. In October 1978, I put on a new hat, starting a small industrial engraving business. Tom and I retired at the same time.

The years in Ponca were filled with lots of good times and good friends and acquaintances. Special to me were my “Eat ‘N Gab” bridge buddies, who have been around for 40+ years, and a more recent group, a Catholic ladies bridge group.

I have enjoyed life. We’ve traveled a lot. I’ve sung in the choir at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Seems as though I have danced and sang my way through some of the most wonderful experiences and relationships. You all have made life full.

Surviving me is Tom (“T” Tommy Terrific) my husband of 54 years; my daughters, Christina Rhodes Villines and husband Scott, and Beth Rhodes Carver and husband Brian, Tom’s sister, Ann Rhodes Ehrlich and husband Jim, niece Erin Hunt, and her husband Derek, and their daughter Lauren; as well as several cousins and their families.

This is my parting wish to all of you: have good years and marvelous family times together; do things that make you happy and those around you happy. Remember that I’ll be praying for you from my new location.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 AM on Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ponca City with the Rev. Zachary Boazman, celebrant, officiating. Face masks are optional. Internment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Ponca City, OK. Visitation will be 3-5 PM and a Rosary will be held at 6 PM Monday, September 20, 2021 at Trout Funeral Home chapel. Face masks are required. Those unable to attend the Funeral Ceremony, may attend virtually on the Trout Funeral Home website, www.troutfuneralhome.com and click on the live-stream or toolbar icon on the top right corner after 9:45 AM.

Donations may be made to Saint Mary’s Catholic School Foundation, 415 S. 7th St., Ponca City, OK 74601. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601.

Source: Trout Funeral Home