Ruth Mae Rainey

Ruth Mae Rainey, born May 17, 1933, went to be with the Lord August 26, 2026 (in Shawnee, OK). Ruth lived 93 years & passed peacefully with family by her side.

As an only child, Ruth McKay loved to play with paper dolls. Her dolls had their own special doll house with chairs, tables and beds and all other needed furniture. Her dad would put her on their horse for rides. She always remembered her dad's red hair and being of Scottish descent.

Ruth grew up an only child, in Stonewall, Oklahoma. Her father came from Ozark, Arkansas; and her mother from Thorpe Springs; Texas. They met in Stonewall when her mother, a second-grade teacher, came to the Post Office to get her mail. Mr. McKay was the Postmaster.

When Ruth was six years old her father died and was laid to rest in Ozark. It was a sad event Ruth recalled all her life. She missed her dad. Her mother stayed in Ada to finish her education at East Central State University, so she could support Ruth and herself. Ruth went through school and graduated in Ada, then moved to Shawnee in 1951.

Ruth was working at GTE in Shawnee when a girlfriend invited Ruth to go on a blind date, where she met her future husband, Robert Northcutt. He was a journeyman electrician for Cook Electric in Shawnee. The new couple married and made. their home in Shawnee.

After fourteen years, Robert passed away in 1974. Ruth then went to Gordon Cooper Vocational School to get her LPN license. She worked at Shawnee Mission Hill Hospital for about seven years.

Ruth was an active member of the Trinity United Methodist, Congregational Methodist, and St. Marks United Methodist churches. She taught bible study and loved the bean dinners! After being introduced by Pearl Rainey (Richard's mother), Ruth married Richard Rainey on November 23, 1977, in Seminole. Ruth always got a laugh out of sharing one of Richard's proposal lines... "Can you cook?"

Ruth became a homemaker after they were married, and they moved to the Rainey family farm north of Seminole, which has been in the Rainey family since 1909.

Country life favored Ruth as she stayed busy with gardening, canning, cooking, and flowers. Before winter she would help cut wood for the fireplace. They always had pets and projects to tend to. Every week Ruth would attend TOPS club meetings and became an awarded member.

After 34 years, Richard retired from Sun Oil Company. He and Ruth moved to Shawnee, purchased a new Suburban, and started traveling around the United States. They went to Washington, New England, South Dakota, Wyoming, Arkansas, Colorado, Tennessee and many more great destinations. Some of their favorite times were spent camping at Lake Keystone in Oklahoma and South Fork, Colorado.

Richard passed away in 2008, so Ruth continued to live at their home in Shawnee until moving to Brookdale Senior Living. She loved living there and always bragged about the friends, food, activities, and care she received.

Ruth is predeceased by: Richard Rainey (husband), Robert Northcutt (husband), James McKay (father), Edith Vick (mother), Tom Rainey (father-in-law), Pearl Rainey (mother-in-law), Noah Shirey (grandson), Mike Shirey (grandson), and Linda Rainey (daughter in law)

She is survived by: Steve Rainey, Carl & Jana Jacobs, Amanda Shirey, B.J. Jacobs, Nathan Jacobs, Andrew Rainey, and numerous great grandchildren

To honor a life well lived, friends and family are invited to attend Ruth's Life Celebration on Tuesday, September 1st, at 1:00 PM with a reception following. Private burial will be at Fairview Cemetery in Shawnee.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.