Bernell Sue Richards Obituary (1938

Bernell Sue (Briles) Richards, 78, of Hardesty, Oklahoma passed away April 22, 2017 at her home.Bernell was born on August 26, 1938 at home in the Dombey area. Her grandmother Elsie Briles was the midwife. She is the daughter of Clyde and Lauva Hasty Briles and lived southeast of Adams. She attended school at Adams and graduated with the Class of 1956. After graduation, she moved to Liberal and worked for Safeway Grocery. She married Rodney Richards on February 16, 1957 at Hardesty Evangelical United Brethren Church.Bernell helped with the cow/calf and farming operations on the farm they purchased northeast of Hardesty and have lived there for the past 60 years. After her children had all began school, she started work at Big S Grocery and did sewing alterations for the Pant Parlor in Guymon. In the early 70's, she began working at First National Bank at Guymon where she was a bookkeeper, teller, secretary, and finished her career in the bank as a credit analyst. During her banking career, she earned her associate's degree in accounting. She retired from the bank in 1992 due to health concerns stemming from MS.Bernell was a member of the Union Center Methodist Church at Adams. Growing up, she was very active in the youth group that began the annual Thanksgiving meals and raised money to drill the current water well at the church and up until the time of her death, she remained active in the group Bible Study and serving meals at the OPSU Wesley Foundation.For 18 years, Bernell helped other families struggling with MS by serving as a coordinator of the Southwest Kansas MS Support Group and the MS Walk in Liberal, KS. She participated in the MS Walk in Enid, Oklahoma on April 1, 2017 with her family. She was a member of the Hardesty Extension Homemaker's Club for many years serving as President and held other offices. She assisted at the Texas County Fair. Bernell was an avid seamstress and made baby clothes, pageant, wedding and prom dresses for her family members and others in the area. She had a 4-H Sewing Club at Hardesty for local youth. She taught her grandchildren how to sew and helped them earn honors to attend National Make-It-With Wool 6 years. She loved embroidery, gardening, cooking, watching basketball games, and attending activities of her children and grandchildren.Preceding her in death are her parents and sister, Clydena.Survivors include her husband, Rodney of the home; two sons, Leon and Beverly Richards of Adams, OK; Clellie and Ginger Richards of Enid, OK; and one daughter, Becky and Terry Gilbert of Hardesty, OK.; ten grandchildren, Amanda and Brian Jarvis of Fairfax, VA; Lorena and Cody Ballard of Oklahoma City, OK; Emily and Katie Richards of Adams, OK; Caleb and Dana Richards of Serepta, LA; Kala and Tyler Wondrasek of Norman, OK; Clancy and Beth Richards of Shawnee, OK; Melyssa and Flip van den Bosch of Vleuten, The Netherlands; Krysta and Caitlyn Gilbert of Stillwater, OK; 6 great-grandchildren; her brother, Darrell Briles of Wikieup, AZ; and numerous family and friends. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 27, at the Adams Mennonite Brethren Church with Herb Bridgewater officiating. Interment will be at the Union Center Cemetery directed by Roberts Brothers Funeral Home in Hooker.Memorials are suggested to the Southwest Kansas MS Association and Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and may be left at Roberts Brothers Funeral Home, Box 745, Hooker, OK 73945. SERVICES Funeral Service Thursday, April 27, 2017 2:00 PM Mennonite Brethren Church County Hwy Ad, Oklahoma 73950