Bonita "Sue" Rider

Bonita Sue Rider (Sue), daughter of the late Elmer and Jewel Brown, passed away peacefully on June 7th, 2021 in the presence of loved ones.  Sue was born on February 3rd, 1929 in Arcadia, Oklahoma and spent the majority of her life living in Chandler, Oklahoma City, and Moore before eventually residing in Edmond.

Sue met her husband, Kenneth, at just 13 years old at Rotary Park in 1942.  Though they were young, it didn’t take long for Sue and Ken to decide they didn’t want to spend a day apart from each other!  On December 18th, 1943 they were married at the Justice of the Peace.  For the next 77 years, they remained inseparable. From raising a family together to caring for each other in their old age, you never saw one without the other.  They had 3 children, Kenneth, Mike, and Teresa, whom they loved dearly. 

Sue was strong in her faith and loved going to church.  She was a longtime member at Exchange Baptist Church, where she served as the director of childcare for 10 years, and then eventually joined Regency Park Baptist Church where she regularly attended until moving to Edmond.  Sue loved volunteering at the church and spent many days volunteering in the Care Closet.

After serving as the director of childcare at Exchange Baptist Church, Sue and Ken worked to become the owners and operators of two childcare centers, known as the “The Rider’s 3C’s”, in Moore and Oklahoma City.  They ran the two childcare centers for many, many years before eventually retiring and deciding to travel anywhere roads could take them!  They purchased a camper trailer, followed by several motor homes, which they used to take grandchildren camping, to visit loved ones living near and far, as well as to have time away, just the two of them. 

Sue loved her family and was happiest when everyone was together.  From annual holidays and family reunions to distant loved ones’ birthdays, Sue used any excuse to have family gatherings.  She would set out the food, bring in chairs for everyone to sit, and would almost always pull out something that she’d been saving to give you J  She wanted everyone to know they were always welcome and could stay as long as they wanted or needed.

Sue loved keeping her grandchildren, and if she could have them all at one time, that was even better.  She loved teaching them, taking them to church, taking them camping, and staying up late playing games.  She was a mother to 3, grandparent to 6, great-grandparent to 12, great-great grandparent to 7, as well as a wonderful friend and family member to many more. 

Sue is survived by her daughter: Teresa Gillespie; daughter-in-law Jan Rider; grandchildren: Christi and Steve Richmond, Jarred and Rebecca Rider, Matt and Debora Rider, and Dustin Dodson; great-grandchildren: Josh and Andrea Webb, Ashley and Barret Austin, Jessica and Kyle Reeves, Shelby Rider, Sydney Rider, Rachel and Joe Stevens, Emma Rider, Stephen Dodson, Ashlee and Paul Thompson, Byron and Crystal Richmond, and Chad Richmond; great-great-grandchildren: River Webb, Grayson Rider, Rob and Holden Manchester, Draden, Brooklyn, and Brynnlee Thompson.

Sue is preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth; her two sons: Michael and Kenneth Wayne; grandsons: Jeffrey and Steven; and great-grandson: Luke.

Sue will be missed dearly!

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