03/14/2026
Bobby Sue Hardisty
Bobby Sue (Hottel) Hardisty passed from this life on Saturday, March 14, 2026. She was born June 14, 1926, in Stratford, OK, to Robert Emanuel Hottel and Julia Dulworth Hottel.
She grew up with her brothers and sisters on the family farm northeast of Davis, Oklahoma, happy and free of worry. She graduated from Davis High School in 1944 and was an active member of her graduating class. She commented several times that many of the boys she graduated with had to leave for the war immediately.
After graduation, she attended Durham’s Business College in Fort Worth, Texas. After graduating from Durham in 1946, she became gainfully employed by Southwestern Bell as a switchboard operator in Arlington, Texas. In 1947, she was transferred to Ardmore, Oklahoma, and in 1949, she was appointed as Chief Operator in Madill, Oklahoma. In 1950, she was transferred to Durant, Oklahoma, as Evening Chief Operator, and in May 1952, she was made Chief Operator.
When going back home to Davis, Oklahoma, for a visit, she met the love of her life, Clyde Hardisty, who was employed by Davis High School as an educator. They were married on June 13, 1953, and Sue continued to work as a Chief Operator. They had two children, Robert Mark Hardisty and Ruth Ann (Hardisty) Wakefield.
Clyde and Sue lived a very busy life in Davis, where they were active in community activities and were active members of the Davis Church of Christ. In 1959, they moved to Norman, Oklahoma, where Sue continued her employment with Southwestern Bell and ultimately retired with them in 1983.
While living in Norman, Sue and Clyde were active members of the Westside Church of Christ, where they made memories and a host of good friends that are cherished unto this day. Sue was active in the church’s women’s ministry, where she provided meals for funerals, made many visits to others, and served in any way she was asked. She also taught the three-year-old Bible class for many years and even served as the church secretary for a period of time.
In her earlier years, she was an active member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club, and while in Norman, she was a member of the Pleasant Valley Extension Club. She loved to read, especially poetry, and she was famous for her weekly reading of the Wall Street Journal. She loved children and enjoyed so much spending time with her grandchildren.
Sue was very talented as a home decorator, and she had the ability to prepare an amazing meal and specialty desserts. She made the world’s greatest fried okra! She lived in the same house for 65 years and loved to surround it every year with beautiful flowers of all colors.
She was preceded in death by her husband (of 57 years), Clyde; her parents; and brothers and sisters Rex, Charles, Peggy, Sally, and Doris; brother-in-law Bill; and sister-in-law Estella.
She is survived by her brother, Bruce; sister-in-law, Carol; and brothers-in-law, Roy and Bob; and by her son, Mark and his wife, Jade; and daughter, Ruth Ann and her husband, Jerry; grandchildren Joshua and his wife, Ashley; Bobby and his wife, Yuji; Peter and his wife, Brittley; Whitney; Bryce and his wife, Sandra; and Kali and her husband, Austin; great-grandchildren Sanibel, Kai, Evelyn, and Emilia, and one to be born this August; and numerous nephews and nieces.
We would like to thank Arbor House of Norman and Iris Memory Care NW of Oklahoma City for the love and care they showed Sue over the last couple of years. Also, we are grateful to Valir Hospice for their love and support of her during the last several months preceding her death.
Sue was known to say, as she walked down the hall, when asked where she was going:
“I’m chasing the sun!”
Memorial Donations may be made in memory of Sue Hardisty to the Norman Public Library.
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