Nada Richert

September 11, 1921 - September 18, 2024

Nada Elaine Richert was born September 11, 1921, the middle child of 5 girls. She was born to Rector Taylor and Lottie Pearl Shinn in Okeene Oklahoma. Nada passed away peacefully on September 18, 2024, in Glenpool, Oklahoma. She was 103.

Nada was preceded in death by her mother and father, her husband Henry Earl Richert, her four sisters: Maxine Cleaver, Loine Murphy, Rita Garrett, and Norma Saulsman. She is survived by her loving children: Jo Ann Hudson (Bruce Curtis), Carol Gunkel (Charles), David Richert (Susan), and Alan Richert, eleven grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren.

The Great Depression was the backdrop for Nada's childhood years spent on farms in Deer Creek and Edmond near Oklahoma City. Despite this, Nada had fond memories of her childhood. She loved riding a horse boarded at the farm as fast as it would go. After graduating from Edmond High School in May of 1939 and attending Blackwood Davis Business School, Nada was hired by an accountant in Oklahoma City to be a bookkeeper. (Nada loved working with numbers and balanced her checkbook well into her 90s!) While working in Oklahoma City she met Henry Richert who was an elevator operator in the downtown building where she was employed. On January 8, 1944, Henry and Nada were married.

Nada's most striking physical feature was her gorgeous red hair, a bright copper color when she was a child turning to a beautiful auburn as an adult. Henry left notes "To the only cute red head I know, ...". Children followed soon after their marriage. Henry worked hard throughout his career as a salesman for W & W Steel. Nada stayed at home, took care of the children, cleaned, cooked as wives often did at that time. Meals in the Richert home were simple but mouthwatering. Sunday meals were especially memorable. Breakfast included Nada's heavenly homemade biscuits, scrambled eggs, sausage, and grits. Dinner was roast beef with homemade mashed potatoes and gravy. Though the menu rarely varied the children always looked forward to Sunday meals.

Nada was a quiet person who loved caring for her husband and children, who enjoyed the friendships she made in her bridge club that was active for almost 50 years, and who was passionate about reading historical novels. She also enjoyed knitting and in her later years knitted caps by the hundreds for underprivileged children. Sadly, Henry passed away December 12, 1979, much too young. On her own, Nada began a new chapter in her life.

Nada and Henry took very few vacations during their marriage; with four children, they just couldn't afford them. Now, with children grown, Nada had the time, money, and desire to travel. She travelled the world with her sister Maxine. They toured Australia, New Zealand, London, and Isreal. She loved learning about the countries she visited and found Isreal particularly interesting. Some cherished journeys closer to home included a train trip across Canada, visits to Yellowstone National Park, Cancun and St. John in the Caribbean, New England to witness the fall foliage, the Southern states to see the azalea in bloom, Washington D.C. for the cherry blossoms, and Manhattan to watch the Easter parade along 5th Avenue.

But most important to Nada during the years after her husband died, was to provide a way for her scattered children and their families to remain close. Beginning when the oldest of her grandchildren were 6, Nada planned a week of activities in the summer in Oklahoma City. Her desire was for the cousins who lived far from each other to develop long lasting friendships. Additionally, Nada opened her home for the Christmas holiday to allow the three out-of-town families and the Oklahoma City based family to be together. Games filled the daytime hours: Monopoly and Charades were favorites.

Nada will be remembered for her love of family and her strong desire that her family remain close even though they are scattered from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

A celebration of Nada's life will be held on Saturday, October 12, 2024, 10:30 - 11:30 AM at Southern Hills Baptist Church Tulsa (5590 S. Lewis Ave, Tulsa, OK 74105)

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, October 12, 2024, 3:30 - 4:00 PM at Memorial Park Cemetery OKC (13400 N Kelley Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73131)

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your local food bank.