Oretha "Ruth" Mae Hilton

Oretha (Ruth) Mae Parnacher-Hilton, 88 of Oklahoma City, OK peacefully passed on November 13, 2023 with several loved ones by her side. Ruth was born in Hickory, OK on April 14, 1935 to Mollieanne Parnacher, fathered by Houston Lewis. She lost her biological mother at the young age of two years old and was mothered by her Aunt Stella Nelson throughout most of her childhood. She attended Sequoyah Indian School in Tahlequah, OK as a young girl. As a young woman, Ruth was a very talented seamstress which followed her throughout life as she patched and mended the clothing of those she knew. She met the father of her children, Charles Oscar Shaw, Jr. in Ada, OK. They had four children together and resided in Cactus, TX.

Ruth’s life was full of many things she loved and was very good at. She took great pride in her native heritage, both Choctaw and Chickasaw. She was fluent in both native languages and had a rich history of culture from each. Ruth was once crowned the Queen of the Elders Valentines Sweetheart Banquet for the Chickasaw Nation. She was an excellent cook teaching her children and grandchildren the importance of the just rightly seasoned pashofa, making the perfect dumplings and of course the generations’ old recipe of her famous Thanksgiving Day dressing. Ruth spent many years being a homemaker, working at Fashion Cleaners in Downtown OKC, and working many years at Ruby’s Plant Stand. She loved to fish, loved to garden and lastly going to the casino whenever she was able.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents and two of her sons, James Edward Shaw and Ronald Keith Shaw. She is survived by her daughter, Melana Elcyzyn and husband Gerald of Tuttle, OK and her son, Kennith Shaw and wife Marie of Newalla, OK. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Quanah Shaw, Jimson Shaw, Jamie Shaw, Jackie Shaw, Mary Morris, Esther Smith, Brian Shaw, Charlie Shaw, Leslie Snow, Boomer Elcyzyn, Michael Elcyzyn, Veronica Randall, Brandi McKinney, Jacob Shaw and a host of precious great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held by John Ireland Funeral Home in Moore, OK on Sunday, November 19, 2023 from 2:00pm-6:00pm. A memorial service will be held by John Ireland Funeral Home in Moore, OK on Monday, November 20, 2023 at 10:00 am with Pastor John Steiger officiating. Graveside interment will immediately follow at 1pm at her final resting place of Rosedale Cemetery in Ada, OK.

Oretha’s family would like to thank the Chickasaw Nation for their lifelong benevolence and compassionate care throughout her life. Additionally, they would like to thank the staff at Meadowlake Retirement Village for their love and care for her over the last few years.

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