Esther LaVerne Ruzycki

  Esther LaVerne Ruzycki died on Friday, January 23, 2026, at the age of 98 years, in the home of her son, Richard, and daughter-in-law, Sheri, in Jones, Oklahoma, where she had lived for the past 15 years. Sheri was her main caretaker during the last few years.

  LaVerne was born September 13, 1927, in the home of her parents, Vincent Columbus and Ruth (Judkins) Aubert, in Spencer, Oklahoma. She was the sixth child in the large family of nine children (two brothers and six sisters).

  After graduating from Jones High School in 1945, she worked at Kress Department Store in downtown Oklahoma City while living in an apartment with her sister, Lillie Ruth.

  It wasn’t long before she met and married her husband, Tony Ruzycki, in December 1945. She immediately started working in the family dairy. In 1952, they bought a farm in the State Center bottom and started their own dairy, which they operated until 1976. At that time, they sold the cattle and dairy equipment. Soon after, LaVerne went to work at the county commissioner’s office until she retired after 15 years.

  While farming, she was a big help during wheat harvest, putting up alfalfa, taking food to the field, and helping with repair of equipment.

  Even while farming and raising a family, she enjoyed hobbies such as making their garden every year, canning the fruits of their labor, and putting up corn with everyone involved.

  Needlework was very relaxing to her in the evenings while watching TV. When the kids were very young, she would read Bible stories to them from a favorite set of books. She and Tony picked up the hobby of bowling when Jones started a bowling league. In their down time, they found many fishing holes, from catfish and trout to saltwater fishing in south Texas.

  She loved reading books, the newspaper, and doing sudoku. She never missed a Thunder basketball game and loved watching OU Sooners and Dallas Cowboys football games. She loved being outdoors and talking on the phone to her sisters, Jean and Mae.

  Everyone loved her cooking, especially her fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, and she made the best pies, especially the chocolate ones.

  Thanksgiving dinner was a really special meal. Some of the favorites were chicken and dressing, cabbage casserole, sweet potato casserole, her mother’s recipe for homemade noodles, and special pumpkin pies with a yummy pecan topping.

  LaVerne is survived by her three children: son Richard Ruzycki and his wife, Sheri, of Jones, and their daughter, Alicia; daughter Connie Schroeder and her husband, Bob, of Choctaw, and their sons, Rob Schroeder and wife, Andréa, and children, Desmond, Esme, Gui, and Julia; and Kevin Schroeder and wife, Kimberly, and their daughters, Devon, Ashtyn, and Rowan; and daughter Brenda Pinkston, of Jones and her daughter, Ashley Donica, and husband, Matthew.

  She is also survived by her twin siblings, brother Ray and sister Mae, and many nieces and nephews. LaVerne was preceded in death by her late husband, Tony, of almost 60 years; her parents, Vincent and Ruth Aubert; and one brother and five sisters.