She was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma on March 10, 1942. Susan graduated from Shawnee High School and received a nursing degree from St. Anthony’s Hospital, School of Nursing, Oklahoma City. She was married to E. Ardryck Gates on February 14, 1975.
In 1968, Susan volunteered to serve as a U.S. Army combat nurse in Viet Nam and was in South Viet Nam near the DMZ during the Tet Offensive by North Viet Nam and the Viet Cong. The Tet Offensive was one of largest military campaigns of the Viet Nam War. During the year she served in the combat zone Susan was intensely involved in the emergency treatment of countless American soldiers wounded in combat.
Following her return from Viet Nam Susan attended and graduated from the U.S. Army Nursing Anesthesia Program and became a nationally Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). Over her CRNA career she practiced her profession at a number of medical hospitals, both military and civilian, located in Georgia, Virginia, Kansas, Texas, and Oklahoma. Throughout her life Susan had a passion for animals, especially dogs and quarter horses.
Susan was predeceased by her parents, Johnnye (Mabel Cope) Rushing and Oliver G. Rushing of Shawnee; aunts Mary Brassfield of Ada, Oklahoma and Novella Lively of Dallas, Texas; and her sister, Verla Mae “Cookie” Smith, of Ramona, Oklahoma.
Susan is survived by her husband, Ardryck Gates, and her sisters, Sunnye Alice Wingo, Moore, Oklahoma and Bobbye Dean Turnbo, Oklahoma City. She is also survived by the children of Cookie Smith and Sunnye Wingo as well as family members of Mary Brassfield in Ada, Oklahoma and Dallas, Texas.
Contributions to the Mercy Hospitals in Oklahoma City and Kingfisher, Oklahoma may be made in her memory, they would be sincerely appreciated.
Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Oklahoma City, OK.
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