Betty Sue (Wilder) Anderson

Betty Sue (Wilder) Anderson was born on October 10, 1947 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma to parents Lizzie Bell Murphy and William Wilder. She departed this life for her journey to her heavenly home on September 8, 2026 at the age of 78 years and 11 months, at her home in Tahlequah.

Affectionately known as Sue, Aunt Sue, and Granny she spent her childhood entirely in Tahlequah. Sue attended elementary school at the historic one-room Owen Public School in Park Hill and continued her education in junior high at the old Bagley Hall before graduating from Tahlequah High School in 1966. She attended Paul’s Beauty College in Oklahoma City and graduated with honors In August of 1971.

Sue met the love of her life, Gary Byard Anderson, after a Tahlequah High School football game when Gary was attending Northeastern State College (now NSU). The two had their first date the next night, and were married in Perry, Oklahoma, Gary’s hometown, On November 20, 1965.

Sue worked as a hair stylist at Clair Reece’s Merle Norman Beauty Salon in Perry, OK prior to Gary’s deployment to Pensacola (FL) Naval Air Station. Sue gave birth to their only child, Cheryl Lynn (Anderson) Bridges on July 7, 1968 in Pensacola. After a stint at another Naval base in Connecticut, they returned to Perry, Oklahoma where Gary taught school and Sue worked as a hair stylist at Camelot Beauty Salon. They also owned and operated a Montgomery Ward store in Perry. Sue’s hobbies were food and books; she loved to cook (Lord she could cook), to read, and of course, to “go out and sit,” (play the slots at the casino).

In 1974, the family moved back to Sue’s hometown of Tahlequah, where they owned and operated a Marine/Boat business at Taylor’s Ferry on Ft. Gibson Lake. Fishing was Gary’s passion, and he, sometimes annoyingly to Sue, dragged her along. After Gary’s untimely passing in 1978, Sue worked in food service (Roxie’s BBQ), news publishing (The Pictorial Press), and then owned and operated her own BBQ food truck, where she, and Roxie Wagers catered at various locations in the area, including the Tulsa State Fair, for many years.

Sue was multi-talented, but her shining star was her personality; she was real, genuine, and authentic. Everyone loved her, and she loved them back. You never had to wonder where you stood with Sue, she told you, with certainty and clarity. Her family was her entire world. She was dedicated to her large family, and never missed an opportunity to visit, cook, or help out, which was often. Sue’s only child Cheryl was the apple of her eye; they were inseparable, and when she had her first grandchild, Kendall Shaw Bridges (1989), there was nothing in this world more important. The kind of love she had for Kendall is simply indescribable; and then she had her first great grandchild Lochlan Alexander Bridges (2013), Loch was simply part of her heart and soul. She travelled across the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Colorado numerous times to be with him and the family as they pursued their lives and careers in education. Her second great grandson, Rowan Anderson Bridges, arrived on May 11, 2025. She didn’t know Rowan long, but when they smiled at each other it melted your heart. Sue’s step-grandchildren, Heath, Kelli, Brad, and Beth were equally as important to her and she loved them dearly.

Sue didn’t have much in terms of material things, but she was rich in love, of and for, family; that’s all that mattered to her.

She was preceded in leaving Mother Earth by her mother Lizzie, her father William, her husband Gary, brothers Ronald (Ronnie) Wilder, Donald (Donnie) Wilder, Sydney (Deanie) Wilder, and sister-in-law Darlene Wilder.

She is survived by Daughter Cheryl Lynn (Anderson) Bridges, son-in-law Kenneth (Kenny) Bridges, her brothers Billy Ray Wilder, Arthur Wilder, Robert Wilder, sister-in-law Donna Perlene Archer, Grandson Kendall Bridges (wife Trista), great grandsons Lochlan and Rowan Bridges, Step-grandchildren Heath Knowles (wife Jamie), Kelli Tibbetts (husband Lt.Col. Quinten R., children Kaden, Kynzie, Kyler), Brad Bridges, Beth Davis (husband Nick, children Kam, Emma, Kynlee), her “picture buddies” nieces, Donna Wilder, Crystal Galvan, Deana Anthony, and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Fly Home Sue!