Betty Jo Ryker passed away Sunday, February 26th, 2017. Betty was born July 6th, 1925, the daughter of John and Maidie Pirtle. She lived in Sapulpa and many family members lived along the same street. She talked fondly and often of growing up with so many loved ones nearby, with a family that included many strong women.

She loved music, art, movies, photography and dance among many other things. She loved clothes and always dressed impeccably. She had one brother, Jack, whom she loved dearly. She and Jack would meet friends downtown to dance on the weekends. Her brother once said she was the girl everyone wanted to dance with. She was so good that she taught dance to friends who were interested and enjoyed it immensely. She also loved to ice skate and draw. She graduated from Webster High School. Throughout her life she loved to sing, singing at church brought her great joy.

She met Weyman Ryker at Warren Petroleum, and they married March 6th, 1954. Together they had four children. She devoted her life to her husband and her children. She and her children attended Sheridan Road Baptist Church, where she worked in the nursery caring for children of all ages. She talked especially fondly of caring for the babies. When her older children became active in the marching band she was there 100% supporting them. All the teenagers who knew Rebecca, John and Brian at Will Rogers High School loved Betty. As her children grew older, she went back to work, first returning to work for Mr. Warren, then moving to Ladd Petroleum.

Everyone loved Betty, but one of her favorite phrases when someone would be difficult was to say "Don't let the turkeys get you down!" She loved to host family parties, and every gathering was equally important to her. Later in life she found much happiness attending Fellowship Bible Church. When her eldest son married, he and his wife Carla gave Betty three grandchildren, whom she again devoted her time to. She said one of the greatest joys of her life was being able to be there at the birth of each grandchild, she was so grateful to be included. When she was with Jacob, Jordan and Joshua they had her full attention, she loved them with all of her heart, and would sometimes jokingly say that any other children were just "generics" though she truly loved all children unconditionally.

She had a huge heart, and a phenomenal sense of humor. As her youngest daughter, I can remember hearing her making her older kids laugh out loud and wondering what they were all laughing about. As I grew older she became my best friend she accepted every person her children brought to her house without question. If her children cared about someone, so did she. She worked hard to teach her children to love unconditionally, to have compassion and to not judge others.

As desperately missed as Betty will be, those of us who were lucky enough to really know her knows she is exactly where she has always looked forward to being, and she is happy and at peace. She is survived by her brother Jack and his wife Anna Mae Pirtle, her children, Rebecca, John and his wife Carla, Brian and his husband Bill Lewis, and Kelli and her husband John Fielden, her grandchildren, Jacob Harrison, Jordan Danielle and Joshua Seth Ryker, as well as an honorary grandson, Simon James Harwood. She also leaves behind many other much-loved family members and friends.

A viewing will be held at Moore's Southlawn Funeral Home, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1st. There will be a service for Betty at Fellowship Bible Church at 11 a.m., March 2nd, with Pastor John Tyson officiating. Food and fellowship will immediately follow the service.