Mildred Reusser

Mildred Mae Vernon Reusser, 88, formerly of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, passed away Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at Good Samaritan Nursing Center in Olathe, Kansas. Memorial services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12 at First United Methodist Church in Bartlesville. Services are under the direction of the Neekamp-Luginbuel Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemories.com. Mildred was born on May 11, 1919 to Albert and Nellie Vernon on the family farm in Grant County near Medford, Oklahoma. She graduated valedictorian from Gore High School, the first consolidated high school in Oklahoma. Following high school, she attended Northern Oklahoma Junior College at Tonkawa where she met her future husband and lifelong partner, Robert E. Reusser. Following graduation at NOJC, she received her bachelor's degree and teaching certificate from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva. She married Robert (Bob) Reusser July 2, 1943 in Hawley, Oklahoma and they moved to Provo, Utah shortly thereafter. Mildred taught grade school in Provo and Salt Lake City, Utah, while Bob continued his education. They moved to Tahlequah, Oklahoma in 1949 where Bob taught college chemistry and Mildred became a mother. In 1953, the couple settled in Bartlesville, Oklahoma due to Bob's employment at Phillips Petroleum Company while Mildred raised her three children and pursued her passion of social activism and humanitarian activities. Mildred taught fifth grade Sunday school at First United Methodist Church for eight years and an adult class for two years. Mildred was a member of the Christian Social Concerns Committee at First Methodist for more than 10 years and was active in the United Methodist Women's organization. She was an active member of PTA, a 4-H leader and also served on the Washington County Child Welfare Committee. One of her fondest accomplishments was the establishment of MUTUAL - Methodists United to Use Applied Love - which began as a junior high school girls club in Bartlesville. The initiative grew into an after school program focusing on educating all ages of girls in social and life skills. Mildred led a successful drive to raise funds for the Concern Center, a building housing the MUTUAL Girls Club. Mildred also helped establish the Tuesday House, a donations-based store with proceeds benefiting MUTUAL. For these achievements she was awarded the Outstanding Alumni Award at Northwestern Oklahoma State University for Humanitarianism. Mildred became a founding member of the Pastoral Counseling Foundation, which served as a source of professional counseling for low income patients. Today it is known as Samaritan Counseling and Growth Center. Mildred's whole life was devoted to providing opportunities for those less fortunate than her; she had a passion for empowering people to pursue a better life. She was a loving wife and mother, adoring grandmother and a source of family support and wisdom. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Bob; brother, Wayne Vernon, of Oklahoma City; brother, Leon Vernon, of Evant, Texas; three children, daughter, Robbyn and husband Don Treadway, Jr. of Amarillo, Texas; son, Randall (Randy) and wife Gaye Reusser of Valley Center, Kansas; daughter, Rochelle (Shelley) and husband Mike Rankin of Olathe, Kansas; grandchildren, Jeff Treadway and his wife Melissa, Stacey Treadway, Kory Rankin and Kelsey Rankin. She was preceded in death by brother Glen Vernon and sister Lois Scaramella. The family suggests donations to MUTUAL Girls Club, P.O. Box 2405, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, 74005-2405.

Service Details

Saturday, April 12th, 2008 2:30pm, First United Methodist Church Bartlesville