Ruth Gayle (Hardy) Smith was born on May 18, 1926 in Marietta, Oklahoma to Dudley and Ruth (Hollingsworth) Hardy Ferguson. Gayle passed from this life on June 18, 2024 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma in the comfort of her home at the age of 98.
Gayle loved fishing, camping, water skiing, swimming, and her Oklahoma Sooners. She loved music and she played in the school band as a drummer. That love for music would continue throughout her adult life as she played on her baby grand piano in her home and mentored her daughters and grandchildren in different musical interests. Gayle loved traveling with friends and family, through different countries like Australia, Europe, and Mexico, as well as taking cruises and spontaneous week end road trips.
Gayle attended Fox Public Schools in Fox, Oklahoma until her junior year when her family moved to Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, where she graduated in 1944. After high school, she married and became a homemaker for her four daughters: Jerry Rutherford, Bonnie Townsend, Marsha Stout, and Holly Gomez. Gayle was always a good listener to her daughters, easy to talk to, and never judgmental. They all felt loved, appreciated, and valued. After the girls were in school, Gayle went onto college, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education, and a Master's in Education. She taught 4th grade for 29 years in Pauls Valley, before retiring at age 65.
Gayle was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Pauls Valley and raised her daughters in that church. She was a faithful member herself, until she was no longer physically able to attend. Gayle's children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were the most important thing to her and that showed when they had family gatherings with big potluck style dinners at least three times a year on Mother's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. All those who knew Gayle could not help but love her easy-going, positive, loving nature, and she will be missed by so many.
Gayle is survived by her daughters: Jerry and husband Allen Rutherford of Longview, Texas; Bonnie and husband Eric Townsend, Ada, Oklahoma; Marsha and husband, Paul Stout, Pauls Valley, Oklahoma; and Holly and husband Tony Gomez, Norman, Oklahoma; grandchildren: Scott and wife Rebecca Rutherford of Dallas, Texas; Steven and wife Karen Rutherford of Decatur, Texas; Trey Kenley of Ada, Oklahoma; Kyle Newton of Norman, Oklahoma; Carly Newton of Norman, Oklahoma; Dustin and wife Danielle Newton of Norman, Oklahoma; Sari and husband Jesse Stokes of Las Vegas, Nevada; Andrea and husband Coty Tharp of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma; Hunter and wife Kendall Gomez of Bethany, Oklahoma; Mitchell Gomez of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Coda Stout of Ada, Oklahoma; Caleb Stout of Elmore City, Oklahoma; twenty-four great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; her sister-in-law, Glennita Smith; loving caretaker, Issie Ballenger; and her little dog, Cutie.
Gayle is preceded in death by her parents Dudley Hardy and Ruth (Hollingsworth) Hardy Ferguson; brothers Andy Hardy, Dudley Hardy, and Carey Hardy, and sister Lee Culver.
Services for Mrs. Smith will be on Friday, June 21, 2024 at 1:00 PM at the Wooster Funeral Home Chapel in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, with Pastor Bruce Ford officiating. Interment will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery immediately following. Visitation for Mrs. Smith will be Thursday, June 20, 2024, from 9:00 AM-4:30 PM at Wooster Funeral Home in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, with family visitation from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Thursday, June 20, 2024. Services are under the direction of Wooster Funeral Home. If you would like to send your condolences to the family, you may do so at www.woosterfuneralhomes.com .