Norma Ortiz Obituary

Norma "Sue" Ortiz passed away Saturday, June 28th with her husband Raul and niece Shelli, by her side.
A celebration of life, pot luck dinner, and gathering will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 19th at the Savanna Community Center, 105 "H" Avenue, Savanna, Oklahoma 74565. Pulled-pork and chicken will be provided by the family, please bring a side item or dessert to share.
Sue was born on September 8th 1953 in McAlester, Ok. to Johnny Terry & Ruth (McCray) Terry. Sue grew up in Crowder and attended Crowder School.
Sue married Teddy Rowell on April 4th 1980. She and Ted had a big blended family. She with two young girls and him with a young girl and a boy and later added another baby girl to the mix! There was never a boring moment! Their house was always full of laughter, someone pestering and pulling pranks on another, someone playing a guitar and a possible tap dance in the kitchen, going on all the time!!
Sue loved cooking and baking and would make homemade biscuits and gravy most mornings! There was never an empty seat at the kitchen table! Everyone was welcome!! She loved to do wood work, sewing and crocheting, she taught and passed this love down to her kids!
She loved to spend time with her kids and grandbabies, and her best gal pals Sandy and Joy. She had a very close relationship with her mom and she absolutely adored her!!
When the kids were growing up she and the kids would go with Ted to the rig which could be anywhere in Southeastern Ok. They spent countless weekends, for many years, in a travel trailer on an Oil Rig site, playing games entertaining each other, telling jokes and an occasional sibling rivalry. Sue would always think of things for the kids to do to keep them occupied while waiting to spend time with their dad!
Anyone who knew Sue knew she was very feisty and full of sass! She was not afraid to speak her mind and say a few choice words while doing so! She also had a tender side, that was always fun to see!
Teds job moved the family to Stigler in 1988. After many years there. She lost her Teddy to sickness in February 2010. They were married for 29 years, in total 35 wonderful years!
She met Raul Ortiz and married on December 12, 2015. Some say hand-picked straight from Ted!! They settled in Kiowa, where they loved to garden and cook together. They raised honey bees, and loved the outdoors. They would often take spur of the moment road trips on the motor cycle! One of the fondest trips and most memorable was seeing the ocean together! They were able to love and spoil each other's grand babies! Sue and Raul attended St. John's Catholic Church in McAlester
Sue is survived by her husband of the home Raul Ortiz; daughter, Shonda Rivera and son-in-law, Robert of Stigler; daughter, Kataua Fitzer and son-in-law, Bill Allan of Tulsa; step-son, Shannon Rowell and daughter-in-law, Reneé of McAlester; step-daughter, Angie McGowan and son-in-law, Matt of McAlester; step-son, Eugene Ortiz and daughter-in law, Christina of Farmington New Mexico; step-son, Steve Ortiz and daughter-in-law, Katrina of Farmington New Mexico; grandchildren: Shaylynn, Ryan, Tony, Taylor, Dalton, Paige, Colton, Laynie, Makenna, Jayci, William, Caitlyn, Mathew, Grayson, Sadie, Audrie, Zoey, Jaylin, Journey, Avi, and Milla; 9 great grands; and numerous nieces, nephews, and one very special niece, Shelli Johnson.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Johnny Terry and Ruth; and Marvin Stacey; her husband, Teddy Rowell; brother, Larry Terry; sister, Debbie Tanner; nephew, Thomas Bradley Edwards; great nieces: Bradlee and Zoe Edwards and her baby girl, Misty Rowell.
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