Ruetta W. Davidson

Ruetta Wynona Davidson was born March 15, 1931, in Chickasha, Oklahoma, and was welcomed into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on May 26, 2020. She was preceded in death by her parents, George W. and Ruthy M. Dutton, and her four siblings, James Dutton, Alfa Sasser, Katherine Chapman, and George Dutton, Jr. She is survived by her loving husband of 69 years, Leslie D. Davidson; her four sons and daughters-in-law, Steven and Melinda Davidson, Phillip and Leslie Ann Davidson, Jeffrey and Jerri Davidson, and Craig and Charlotte Davidson; her ten grandchildren and spouses, Brian Davidson and wife Sherry, Bradley Davidson and wife Rachel, Brent Davidson and wife Andrea, Sarah Duc and husband Adam, Christina Arrona and husband Ruben, Jeremy Davidson and wife Lindsey, Jennifer Ward and husband James, Caroline Fogle and husband Matthew, Angela Davidson, and Daniel Davidson and wife Alyson; and her eleven great-grandchildren, Westen and Elizabeth Davidson, Olivia and Zoe Davidson, Avery Davidson, Katherine and Evelyn Ruetta Arrona, Parker and Sawyer Davidson, Gwendolyn Ward, and Aria Fogle; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and other extended family.
Ruetta graduated from Chickasha High School in 1948 and Oklahoma College for Women in 1951. She married her high school sweetheart, Les, on August 4, 1951, and they spent most of the next two years in Alexandria, Louisiana and Biloxi, Mississippi while Les served in the Air Force. They later moved to Norman, Oklahoma and Ruetta taught Home Economics at Harding High School in Oklahoma City while Les attended the University of Oklahoma from 1953 to 1957. After his graduation, Les and Ruetta lived in Glendive, Montana for two brutally cold years before returning to Chickasha in 1959. They moved to Norman again in 1962, where they continued to live for the next 58 years until her passing. After raising her children, Ruetta was employed in clerical positions at the Oklahoma Center for Continuing Education and the O.U. School of Law for several years. While maintaining their roots in Norman, in retirement Les and Ruetta spent summers on their property outside Durango, Colorado for more than 20 years.
Ruetta is adoringly remembered as unfailingly loving and loyal to her family, her friends and especially her Lord. She was devoted to Les and passionate about her sons, always seeking the best for, and expecting the best of, her family. Ruetta also loved and kept up with her extended Dutton and Davidson families. She was the family’s go-to person if you needed to remember a name or a date. She was also a faithful friend to many, a consummate homemaker, and a gracious hostess. Les and Ruetta were charter members of Bethel Baptist Church in Norman. Ruetta loved babies and toddlers and worked in Bethel’s preschool ministry for more than 20 years. Organizing parent dedication services for newborns was one of her great joys. She sang in the Adult and Senior Adult choirs at Bethel, and she and Les traveled to China, Australia, Armenia and Israel with the Singing Churchmen of Oklahoma. Her last church role was as Bethel’s Sunday School secretary for many years. Les and Ruetta were also active in Vallecito Church during their summers in Colorado. One of her last requests was to bring her Bible to the hospital. Ruetta loved well and was well loved. She will be dearly missed.
Visitation with the family will be at Tribute Memorial Care, 708 24th Ave NW, Norman, OK, 73069 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 1, 2020. A memorial service will be held at Bethel Baptist Church, 1717 W. Lindsey St, Norman, OK, 73069 at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 2, 2020. The family requests that social distancing protocols be observed. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Ruetta to the Bethel Baptist Church Children’s Ministry.