Floella (Flo) Rowena Rickey

Floella (Flo) Rowena Rickey was born October 16, 1927, at Hobart, Oklahoma to Lee Ivin and Rena Alice (Carr) Barton and passed away December 24, 2023, at the age of 96 at the Cimarron Nursing Center in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. Flo lived the last year of her life at Cimarron Nursing Center but grew up in Gotebo, Oklahoma and raised her family in Hobart, Altus, Choctaw and Watonga, Oklahoma. She was the last surviving member of the Gotebo High School Class of 1945, where she played basketball. Flo liked to brag that she was the first member of her family to graduate from high school and attend college. She went for one year to Southwestern Institute of Technology (now Southwestern Oklahoma State University).

Most of Flo’s adult life was spent as a homemaker, Cub Scout Den mother, Brownie Troop leader and school home room mother. When they moved to Watonga, Flo worked as a ward clerk at Watonga Municipal Hospital. After retirement, she was an active member of the Watonga Hospital Auxiliary and the Friends of the Ferguson Mansion.

Flo and John A. Rickey were united in marriage at Oklaunion, Texas on February 22, 1947. They were married 52 years.

She was predeceased in death by her parents, husband, sons, Larry Rickey and Jody Rickey, daughter-in-law, Pam Rickey, two sisters, Lavenia Griffin and Joyce Carroll and a brother, Edsall Barton.

She is survived by a son, Lonnie Rickey, Watonga, two daughters, Susan Brickman (Vernon), Watonga and Jana Colgate (Bruce), Loveland, CO. Also surviving are four brothers, Vereal Barton, Gulfport, MS, Rogers Barton, Norman, OK, Winston Barton (Janis), Oklahoma City, OK, and Nuben Barton (Ann). Prague, OK and sister-in-law, Janie Rickey, Clute, TX. Flo had eleven grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter, along with numerous nephews, nieces, and friends.

Graveside services for Flo Rickey will be held on the 5th day of January 2024 at 11:00AM at the Hobart Rose Cemetery in Hobart, Oklahoma with Dennis Frazier officiating and Wilkinson Mortuary in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for memorial contributions be made to Friends of the Ferguson Mansion or Mercy-Watonga Hospital Auxiliary with Wilkinson Mortuary as the custodian.