Saundra Ryles

Saundra Kay (Ragland) Ryles passed away on November 26, 2016.  She was 71.  Saundra married the love of her life, Oliver Cleve Ryles, Jr. on November 24, 1970.  Jr. served in the United States Army and fought in the Vietnam War from 1971-75, and was later stationed at Fort Hood, TX and Fort Devens, MA with his family.  After military life, Saundra and Jr. lived in Moore, OK and raised their two daughters, Laura and LaDonna, there.  Jr. and Saundra became real estate brokers and made many friends along the way.

Saundra loved the cabin that she and Jr. built in Davis, OK and boating on the Lake of the Arbuckles.  Saundra was a Chickasaw Indian.  The Ryles cabin was next to Chickasaw land near Sulphur, OK and many happy weekends and holidays were spent there.  Saundra would one day trace her Indian roots all the way back to the Trail of Tears that led her ancestors to Indian Territory.

Each year, Saundra created recipes to enter into the Oklahoma State Fair and many other cooking contests.  She had more blue ribbons than you could possibly imagine one person could win.  She always made sure there was enough pie or other treats to send with Jr. to work at Tinker AFB.  One of her dreams was to cook in the Pillsbury Bake-Off and she did it!  She was one of 100 chosen in 1994 at the Hotel Del Coronado.  There is a photo of her at the Del with host, Alex Trebek.  The recipe:  Cajun Red Beans and Rice Salad.  She also made numerous wedding and other event cakes and sweets, and even catered a “mystery theatre dinner” once.

She was definitely a “foodie” before it was a “thing.”  Later, she knew every celebrity chef, every restaurant and every signature dish on the entire Food Network, not to mention every ingredient and every technique they use.

Saundra loved going to the Amish Auction in Clarita, OK.  They usually went with good friends, Glo and John Morris.  She acquired many beautiful handmade quilts, furniture pieces and antique cookware.  For a time, she had a booth in an antique shop and loved scouring the Oklahoma prairieside for lost treasures.

After losing LaDonna to complications from Type I Diabetes in 1999 and Jr. to a heart attack in 2001, Saundra moved to Utah to be near her daughter and son-in-law, Laura and Dan Thompson.  She loved being “GiGi” to her grand and great-grandkids:  Dan Jr., Amber, Trisha, Bradley, Daimon, Jack, Kanyan, Zyan, Taelon and Raegan.  Saundra’s sisters, Mona Heath and Ruth Barnes, and half-brother, LeRoy Cook, passed before her.  One half-brother, Austin Cook, survives her.  Saundra leaves behind her “other sister,” cousin Freda (Miller) Rivers, and wonderful lifelong friends Ali Campbell and Glo Morris.

Saundra’s strength, resolve and spirit were unmatched.  She suffered from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for 26 years.  It took its toll, but she always fought to overcome the obstacles it threw at her.  The last few years of her life, Saundra was in a wheelchair.  The RA caused her to lose most of the use of her hands and legs.  She suffered from debilitating heart and respiratory illnesses.  Even though she could not do all of the things she could before, Saundra absolutely never thought of herself - and neither did anyone else - as disabled.  She accomplished so much in spite of these challenges.

Some of Saundra’s favorite travels were to California (or anywhere) with Jr., especially Monterey; Alaska cruising; Puerto Vallarta; Texas to see antebellum homes; Las Vegas; Lake Powell and she finally got to see the Irish and Scottish countryside.  She lived in France for 10 days with Dan and Laura, and even got an ambulance ride to Paris.  Saundra’s smile, sense of humor, shabby chic style and home cooking will be missed but she will remain in our hearts forever.

Friends may visit with family Wednesday, November 30, 2016 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd.

Funeral services will be held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at Resthaven Funeral Home at a later date.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lindquistmortuary.com