Ruth A. Gorman of Edmond, OK passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on April 25, 2023 at the age of 90 from complications of an AFib-induced stroke.
Born in Okarche, OK to Edward H. and Rose M. Eischen, Ruth graduated in 1951 from Holy Trinity High School there and attended Saint Mary’s College (now the University of Saint Mary) in Leavenworth, Kansas.
She worked as a secretary for Oklahoma Natural Gas in Oklahoma City before marrying the love of her life, Joseph Patrick “Pat” Gorman in 1953 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in their
hometown of Okarche. As a result of Pat’s career with the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors, only two of their children were born in the same city.
Their travels as either winner or host of company trips took them to many memorable places. Ruth began working outside of the home in the early ‘70’s as receptionist for Richard V. Simon, D.O. of Edmond which she thoroughly enjoyed. She later began working from home to “better corral those boys of ours” and in a field well suited to her positive, people-loving personality. Ruth’s business as an independent beauty consultant with Mary Kay Cosmetics spanned over 49 years, 44 of those as a Senior Sales Director.
Ruth embraced not only people, but life’s adventures with every new chapter. Whether that
meant the bleacher life of little league and rodeos or hitting balls on the driving range or
boating and even camping with “the entire gang,” Ruth would give it her all while claiming the title of “being a good sport.” There were the evenings when she would step out on Pat’s arm for dinner and dancing as if still being courted or to join friends for dinner bridge night.
No place was more Ruth’s center than her home and in welcoming visitors with the help of her enthusiastic Schnauzers and later Clancy the Corgi. Her kitchen was open on any given Sunday and for those football game watch parties on the Saturdays of fall and backyard burger cookouts with badminton and croquet as sides.
It would take decades before she would be talked out of a formal dining room setting for holiday feasts. There was always a cup of coffee or tea offered to anyone who dropped by “after 10 a.m. please” for some of her gracious hospitality and a good visit.
She was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, grandmother and great-grandmother and a friend to many. Devoted to her faith,
Ruth was steadfast in offering prayers for those who asked and “for those who just might need one.” Pat and Ruth were longtime members of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edmond, serving as eucharistic ministers for years.
Having moved away long ago from the place where she grew up to become an accomplished young woman despite having lost her baby sister and her father by age 6, she remained forever grateful to her mother and brother, the many aunts and uncles, cousins, friends, and wonderful teachers who contributed to a truly joyful life as the skinny girl in the town that never left her heart: Okarche.
Ruth is survived by her 5 children: Deborah (Henry) Wolfe of Chicago; Stephen (Linda) Gorman, Edmond; Christopher (Terry) Gorman, Edmond; Gregory (Lynne) Gorman, Broken Arrow; and James (Forrest) Gorman, Edmond; 10 grandchildren: Jennifer (Scott) Booker, Jeremy (Midori) Boudreau, Ryan (Janae) Gorman, Lauren (James) Cooper, Bryan Gorman, Matthew Gorman, Joshua Gorman, Jacob “J.T.” Gorman, Trevor Gorman, Thomas (Kelsey) Gorman; and great- grandchildren River, Harrison, Allister, Samuel, Christian, and Owen; and nieces Patti Eischen, Shari Eischen, and Dee Eischen-White all of St. Louis. Ruth was preceded in death by Pat, her husband of 55 years, who died on July 25, 2008; by her parents, her sister Barbara Ann, and her brother Patrick J. Eischen; and by grandson, Nicholas Gorman, who died on June 23, 2000 shortly after birth.
The family would like to thank those who have been a source of love and support. Though we miss her so much, we take comfort in Ruth’s joyful reunion with so many deceased loved ones, most especially her dance partner and beloved husband, Pat. We can hear her adding: “That’ll be good.”
Funeral services will be on Monday, May 1 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 900 S. Littler Ave., Edmond, OK 73034. Interment will follow at Resurrection Memorial Cemetery, 7801 N.W. Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK located between N. Rockwell and N. Council Road.
Arrangements by Smith & Kernke Funeral Home, 14642 N. May Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73134
In lieu of flowers, consider a memorial donation to the American Heart Association at heart.org or Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City at catholiccharitiesok.org.
