Obituary for Sydney Kriter

Sydney Rae Kriter

November 4, 1935 – September 19, 2018

Sydney Rae Kriter of Blackwell, Oklahoma, passed away Wednesday, September 19, 2018, in the Mercy Health Center in Oklahoma City at the age of 82 years.

Sydney Rae (Howard) Kriter was born on November 11, 1935 to Lew and Theda (Curtis) Howard in Tulsa Oklahoma. The family moved to Blackwell soon after to open Lew Howard Drug. Sydney worked at the drug store until Lew retired in 1977. Sydney graduated from Blackwell High School in 1953 and was active in band, other activities and was the Homecoming Queen. She attended The University of Oklahoma for one year before marrying George Kriter and moving to the farm west of Blackwell. They raised their three children, Kim, Terri, and Kurt on the farm.

When the kids grew up, Sydney returned to college. She received an Associate’s degree in Accounting from NOC before transferring to OSU where she completed her Bachelor and Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. Sydney worked as a clinician at Edwin Fair Mental Health before going to work for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health in Oklahoma City. She later moved to Enid to become the Director of Wheatland Mental Health until she retired. Upon retirement, she moved to Tulsa and finally returned to Blackwell where she lived independently until her death.

Sydney was an avid reader and was always up to date on world events. She was a member of the First Christian Church of Blackwell where she taught many adult and youth Sunday School classes. Prior to retirement, she was active in civic organizations and was both a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Alcohol/Drug Counselor. She was well known and respected in her field.

Sydney was always the “cool” Mom when her kids were growing up and she chaperoned every school dance and band trip her kids attended. She was the head cheerleader for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and will be greatly missed! She loved hearing about their sporting events and school activities. Her never ending conversation was a source of entertainment to all who knew her. She always believed that she was the luckiest woman in the world and was grateful to the very end.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her younger brother Mike Howard, and a nephew Louis C. Howard.

She is survived by her loving family: Daughters Kim Kriter Loftis (Mike), Terri Childers (Wes), of Blackwell and son Kurt Kriter (Pam) of Lodi, California. Grandchildren: Wiley Childers , Wayne Childers, Rachel Poslick Jaques, Becca Poslick Gatewood,, Clay Poslick and John Kriter. Great Grandchildren: Maggie, Paige, Lucy, Jake and Reagan Childers; Blake, Austin, and Libby Jaques; Sydney and Tanner Gatewood, and Grady and Gentry Poslick. She is also survived by a special niece, Michelle Howard, and her loving boyfriend Doyle Seawright.

A memorial service is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 25th in the First Christian Church in Blackwell with Rev. Jeff Koch officiating. Burial will be in the Blackwell Cemetery.

Sydney’s grandchildren will serve as honorary casketbearers.

Memorials may be made to the Blackwell School Foundation in care of Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.