Ethyl Shirley Gustafson

Ethyl was born in Algonquin, Illinois, on November 5, 1922, one of five children born to Frank and Catherine Andersen. She grew up near the town of Elgin, Illinois, and attended high school there. After high school, she began working for the Elgin watch factory.

It was in Elgin that she met the love of her life, Roger Gustafson, and the two were married. Roger was in the dairy business, and in 1951 the couple moved to Claremore to raise and sell dairy cattle. Ethyl worked primarily as a homemaker for many years and volunteered some of her time working with the red cross, gray lady, home extension and as a 4H coordinator. She also enjoyed helping Roger on the dairy and with raising beef cattle. After retiring from the beef industry, Ethyl decided to continue her working career. She took a job as a cook at Sequoyah schools, where she loved being around the children and watched generations grow until their graduations. She continued that job until retiring at the age of 90. She also volunteered at the Claremore hospital, and enjoyed attending Sequoyah Baptist Church. In her latter years she made a move to Texas where she lived with her daughter and was around some of her grand children and great grandchildren who she adored. She passed peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones.

Ethyl was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Roger.

Survivors include her children, Ronald Gustafson of Virginia, Dale Gustafson of Tulsa, Dennis Gustafson of Edmond, and Shirley Miller of Rockwell, TX; grandchildren, Ronald, Renee`, Susan, Cathy, Rick, Rob, and Ryan; also five great-grandchildren.