Rotha June Giese

She was born in Oklahoma City on February 21, 1932. Rotha grew up in Minco, OK, and graduated from Minco High School in 1950. After high school, she attended Oklahoma State University for a couple of years.

After her children were grown, she had a wild hair and decided to move to the Virgin Islands. She lived and worked on St. Thomas for 17 years, and loved every minute of being there.

Rotha worked at Hertz Corporation and then HERC Rentals for approximately 28 years, combined. She was 85 years old when she finally retired. Rotha was always a hard worker, very opinionated and a true fighter, determined that nothing was going to bring her down. There is no question about it, Rotha was a huge sports fan, but especially an avid Oklahoma State University Cowboy football fan, and loved to talk football with anyone that would listen. She was sassy, scrappy and always full of energy. Her friends described her as one who loved fiercely, was always fun to be around, easy to laugh, and just a truly classy lady (she really loved clothes).

She is survived by her son Gary Dean Phillips and wife Susan; daughters Rhonda Gay (Johnson) Davison and husband Bob; and Kim Renee Giese; grandchildren Shannon Lee Phillips and wife Lisa; Michaela Lynn (Johnson) Ingram and husband Jeremy Lynn; and great grandchildren Brittany, Tony and Vivian Phillips, as well as her newest baby granddaughter Stella Lynn Ingram. Rotha is also survived by special nieces and a nephew, and many other great-nieces and nephews. She was proud of each and every one of them.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Winfred and Virgie (Freeman) McConnell; and her brother Ross Eugene McConnell.

Interestingly enough, Rotha was born Mary Jane Johnson to her birth mother, Emily Rosamond Johnson of Tuttle, OK, the granddaughter of famed Chickasaw, Montford T. Johnson, whose life was chronicled in the movie “Montford Johnson, The Chickasaw Rancher.” Many stories were told of Rotha and her friends going to the Johnson Ranch (now the site of Braums Dairy) stealing watermelons and taking them down to the Canadian River to eat, she was always ornery.

Throughout her life, she was passionate for the well-being of all animals. Rotha had a particular fondness of cats. We often joked that she truly was a crazy cat woman, having as many as 10 feral cats in the house at one time, and numerous other outside cats that she cared for.

We will forever hold Rotha in our hearts. She will truly be missed by those that had the pleasure to cross paths with her! May you rest in peace Rotha June!

A private graveside service will be held at the Minco Cemetery in Minco, OK. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rotha’s name to the Central Oklahoma Humane Society, in Oklahoma City, OK.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemorialParkOKC.com for the Giese family.