Ronda Wooten was born May 16, 1944 in Bristow, Oklahoma the daughter of William Sikes Wooten and Dorothy Rosalie Evans. She passed away April 9, 2026 at the age of 81.

Ronda lived boldly, with kindness, generosity, and an irrepressible enthusiasm for life. Over the years, she held many jobs—nurse’s aide, legal secretary, janitor in a maximum-security mental hospital, factory worker, chicken farmer, overland truck driver, and more—living what could only be described as nine lives in one. Her love of cats earned her the apropos nickname, “MomCat,” and she took in and cared for many over the years.

Her adventurous spirit defined her from an early age, as did her strong sense of self and spirited determination. As a teenager on a summer trip to Tulsa with her younger brother Monti, she once stood at a restaurant door waiting expectantly for him to open it for her. When he didn’t, she huffed and informed him that he was supposed to open doors for ladies. His reply—that she wasn’t a lady, but his sister—only deepened her indignation. It was a small but telling moment that captured her fire and the lively dynamic she shared with those she loved.

That same blend of mischief and generosity showed in the way she cared for her family. At one point, she and Jack procured a live pig for Monti’s 4H project and, with characteristic ingenuity, kept it in their bathroom tub for two weeks until Christmas. Presented in a box that wriggled and squealed, the gift left Monti in delighted disbelief—“A pig, a pig!!!” he exclaimed. The experience became one he cherished for the rest of his life, both for what he learned and for the love and effort behind it.

Her youngest brother, Virgil, remembered both her playful warmth and her steady presence throughout his childhood. As a small boy, he recalled her swinging him around in circles and including him in moments that made him feel seen and cared for. At their home in Gentry, he remembered watching her prepare for a date while a young suitor waited nervously nearby—an early glimpse of the life she was beginning to build. Not long after, she brought him a border collie mix puppy named Señor, a gift that became his constant companion through boyhood and a lasting symbol of her thoughtfulness.

As the years went on, Virgil treasured the times she and Jack would visit from Tulsa—summer trips that included swimming in nearby rivers and long-anticipated reunions he eagerly awaited. During more difficult times in his adolescence, Ronda opened her home to him, welcoming him for extended stays and offering both stability and care when he needed it most. Her willingness to make space for others, especially family, was a quiet but defining expression of her love.

Her adventurous nature carried into adulthood. She once walked from southern Georgia to New Orleans with little money, no plan, and nowhere to stay—relying on grit, kindness, and determination, even spending a night in a cemetery. That journey—though it may have given her daughter a bit of gray hair—helped shape her deep compassion for those without stable shelter, and she became a quiet but steadfast advocate for the homeless throughout her life.

She said yes to everything, embracing both beauty and hardship without ever losing her generous heart or her sense of wonder.

In later years, she spent much of her time at the Dolores Public Library, participating in programs like the book club and Qi Gong and giving back in every way she could. “Keep moving” became her mantra, and she lived it fully. On her first trip to Colorado at the age of 68, she hiked five miles up to Hope Lake at 11,800 feet—just one example of her determination and spirit. She remained active and strong to the very end; just two weeks before her passing, she completed her usual three-mile hike with her daughter and granddogger, Tizzy Lou Who. She was, always, a wonderful companion on the trail and in life.

Her life was extraordinary not because it was easy, but because she lived it fully—with heart, courage, humor, and unwavering joy. She will be deeply missed, dearly loved, and forever remembered by all whose lives she touched.

Surviving Ronda are her child, Morgen Hickey (Mike Hill); and brothers Monti Wooten (Sandra) and Virgil Wooten (Sharon).

Ronda was preceded in death by her parents; former husband, Jack Hickey and second husband, William Brennan; and her elder brother, Jim Wooten.