Obituary for Ethel Rhea

Ponca City Now - April 10, 2019 4:08 pm

Ethel Marie Rhea

May 29, 1926 – April 9, 2019

Ethel Marie Rhea, formerly of Blackwell, Oklahoma, died Tuesday afternoon, April 9, 2019, in the Community Health Center in Wakita, Oklahoma, at the age of 92 years.

Ethel Marie Rhea was born on May 29, 1926, in Barry County, Missouri, to Ova and Anita (Duncan) Parkison. She grew up in Missouri and attended Harold Rural School. She met Kenneth Gene Rhea in Missouri and they traveled to Wellington, Kansas, where they were married on April 26, 1946. They settled in Mayfield, Kansas, before moving to Olmitz, Kansas. In 1952 they moved to Blackwell before moving to Nardin to make their home. Her husband preceded her in death in 1975 and she continued living in Nardin until the 1980’s when she returned to Blackwell. She later moved to Medford for three years before moving to Wakita where she currently lived. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Nardin. She enjoyed fishing, camping and traveling.

She is survived by two sons, Mickey Rhea and wife Joan of Medford, and Ricky Rhea of Wakita; five grandchildren, Chris Foster and wife Jana, Becky Day and husband Jerry, Ken Rhea and wife Lisa, Ed Rhea and wife Dee, and Nickole Rhea and husband Scott; thirty great grandchildren; and seven great great grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; a brother and sister-in-law, Ray Vivian Parkison; a daughter-in-law, Kathlene Rhea; and two nephews, Gene and Gaily Parkison.

A graveside service is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Friday, April 12th in the Blackwell Cemetery.