Wren Sobitee Slate

Wren passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 28, 2024 at 11:52 am CST in Tulsa, Oklahoma after an extended illness and hospital stay.

She was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico on September 4th, 1983. During her early years, her family lived in Durango, Colorado where her mom attended school at Fort Lewis College and her dad worked. When they moved from Durango, they settled in the community of Dulce, New Mexico among her extended family and friends. She attended head start, kindergarten and elementary school there.

In 1991, her family relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico where she attended elementary, middle school and high school. Wren had a beautiful singing voice. She was a member of the national award-winning show choir "Gold Rush". Theater was her passion and she acted in plays throughout high school and college.

In 2000, her family relocated to Germantown, Maryland where she graduated from Northwest High School in 2002. She was excited to experience a new environment on the East coast full of new adventures, friends and places to explore, and she did just that!

Wren was proud to have worked in the visitor services unit for a period of time at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. She would often refer to it as her first "adult job".

She attended Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado twice. The second time she met her future husband Ted Slate at a mutual friend's birthday party. They fell in love and felt so lucky to be companions and enjoy all of the outdoor adventures right outside their downtown apartment doorstep. They could often be found floating the river, hiking in the mountains, snowboarding or road tripping to her favorite places in New Mexico. Wren was also very proud to be employed at the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Wren and Ted were married in Taos, New Mexico on October 31, 2015. Halloween was her favorite day of the year, and she would plan her costume months in advance! As a child, her grandmother sewed many custom made costumes for her that she proudly wore.

In early 2014, she relocated to Ted's hometown of Norman, Oklahoma. She enjoyed many things about living in Norman; she was a member of the local YMCA and had a group of senior citizens there who she lovingly referred to as her "girls". She always looked forward to seeing them and enjoyed their company and the stories about their lives and families. Wren and Ted were lucky to have a nature preserve known as Sutton Wilderness less than a mile from their home and they hiked there almost daily with their dog Georgia.

The Norman Music Festival is a yearly 3-day music event that Wren always looked forward to. She researched and followed the indy bands who made their appearances there, some of which went on to great fame. She was a fan of pop culture and followed her favorite celebrities on the "gram" and TMZ. We could always count on her to let us know what was happening in these worlds.

She loved the mountains and returned as often as possible to New Mexico. Ted said as soon as they would cross the state line, she would see the Land of Enchantment sign and shed tears of joy at being back home. When they visited Taos they would often spend the whole day soaking in the beauty near the John Dunn Bridge where the Rio Hondo flows into the Rio Grande and met plenty of interesting locals.

Wherever she went, people were drawn to her and she made friends easily. Folks who met Wren were always eager to tell her their story. She was a good listener and had a warm heart.

A dear friend commented, "You gave her a beautiful name and gave her spirit. Birds are wondrous creatures. Throughout her life, she brightened many lives with her infectious laugh, smile, and lively personality. That is how I saw her last and will remember those beautiful ways. Forever she walks in beauty."

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother Esther Velarde her father-in-law Richard H. Slate.

She has left many loved ones behind. Surviving her are husband Ted Slate of Norman, Oklahoma, her mother and father, Wilbur and Pamela Woodis of Taos, New Mexico, her brother Taylor Woodis her sister-in-law Danielle Rae Vaughn and her niece Beauie Rae Woodis of Los Angeles, California

Wren also had a large extended Jicarilla Apache family on her maternal side and a large extended family on her Dine (Navajo side) on her paternal side. She leaves behind several dear friends and adopted family members that enriched her life.