Ruth Brinkley

Funeral services for Ruth Rosalie (Bourquin) Brinkley, 88, of Clinton, will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday at Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Clinton.

She died on Thursday, March 10, 2016, at Grace Living Center in Clinton.

Mrs. Brinkley was born in Butler on Oct. 25, 1927, to Charlie Bourquin and Alma (Horst) Bourquin. She began school in the one-room country school and graduated from Butler High School in May of 1945. 

She grew up on Barnitz Creek near Butler, and would often reminisce about the school box suppers, playing in Barnitz Creek, and simple country life.  

In 1945 she married Charlie Blain Brinkley. Shortly after, they moved to Port Angeles, Wash., to be near her sister. The couple soon became homesick, so they returned to Oklahoma.

Brinkley loved cooking for her family and having company over to eat.  Blessing others with a meal was a blessing to her.  While raising her children, she worked in the food industry for most of her life. She worked at S & S Restaurant, Big T, Dairy Queen, Rib Cage and Dairy Hut, among others.  

She was a faithful member of Cumberland Presbyterian Church for over 60 years and sang in the choir, helped prepare meals, assisted with Bible school and studied her Bible. She was also a member of TOPS

Club and an active member of Custer County Home Extension Club.  

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son, Leslie Allen Brinkley; and one sister, Bernice Medley.  

She is survived by two sons, Mike Brinkley and wife Kathy, of Clinton, and Charles Brinkley and wife Jeanie, of Allenspark, Colo.; two daughters, Enola Crayton and husband Clyde, and Barbara Smith and fiancé Curtis Duff; 14 grandchildren, Michael, Chris, Brett, Shandee, Sharra, Shala, Lora, Cora, Lee Ann, Joseph, Rachel, Casey,  Sarah and Shea; 18 great-grandchildren; a sister, Shirley Bourquin; an aunt, Marie Dewees; a special niece, Sandra Medley Rogers, of Washington; and numerous other nieces and nephews.  

The family has suggested that those wanting to give a memorial contribution may do so to the Grace Living Center Activity Department or the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Services will be officiated by Rev. Dale Nease and Jimmy Lynn Musick. Interment will follow the service at Stafford Cemetery under the direction of Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home.