Susan Viola Caywood

Susan Viola (Dry) Caywood was born March 9, 1944 in Spokane, Washington. She was the daughter of John Dorn and Ruth Alta (McKelvey) Dry. Susan was raised and received her education in Spokane. In an early marriage, Susan had three sons, Timothy Ruhl, Thomas Ruhl and Edgar Ruhl.

She later met and was married to Samuel Ray Caywood on November 8, 1969 in Spokane, Washington. The couple established their initial home in Spokane and later moved to California. The couple had one son Andrew. After a short time in California the couple returned to Washington State for a short time before moving to Oklahoma in 1976.

In 1985, Sam and Susan moved to the Cleveland area where they remained until 1996. While in Cleveland, Susan managed and operated the Cedar Creek Apartments for nearly seven years. In 1996, the couple relocated to the Terlton area as both were employed by Cleveland X-Ray and Big State X-Ray as technicians. In 2002, Sam and Susan moved to Mannford where they have resided until the time of his death on July 23, 2008 and then upon her passing on May 19, 2017.

When the children were growing up the family often enjoyed outings to the Mojave Desert riding motorcycles. They also spent a lot of time in a cabin on Loon Lake in Washington. They spent countless hours camping and fishing and enjoying family activities. Susan also enjoyed taking the children to Gonzaga University in Spokane while they were residing there.

After moving to Oklahoma one of the most enjoyed family activities was Susan taking a grandchild to spend a week in the summer with their grandfather working on the pipeline usually in Texas. She would take one at a time so that they could each enjoy her full attention. She was described by her family and friends as a hard working wife, mother, and grandmother that enjoyed her family and was her own woman and on occasion could be a little head strong. Susan enjoyed crocheting and doing arts and craft projects including making quilts. She was known in the family for making Halloween costumes for each of the grandchildren and insisted upon making them herself rather than purchasing them from a store. She enjoyed baking and made excellent fudge. She also liked the Thanksgiving holiday and having the family together where she always prepared candied yams. Susan enjoyed watching murder mystery shows on television as well as watch HGTV. She was a huge Willie Nelson fan. Susan often expressed to Andrea and Kyle that if they were to have a girl not to name her Viola, but right before she passed she agreed if they were to have a daughter they could name her Viola and she spelled it for Andrea.

Susan is survived by four children, Andrew Caywood and his wife, Melissa of Mannford, Oklahoma, Timothy Caywood of Washington, Thomas Ruhl of Florida, and Edgar Ruhl of Florida; six grandchildren, Candace Caywood, Andrea and her husband Kyle Littlehead, Brittney Ruhl, Destiny Ruhl, Nicholas Caywoood and Nick Ruhl; three great grandchildren, Nolan Caywood, Rylie Isbell and Isaac Littlehead; three siblings, Thomas John Dry, Judy Ruth Rymer, and Jean Louise Ryan. In addition to her husband, Susan was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Carol Lee Schroeder and Peggy Irene Wiggins; and a grandson Jonathan Caywood.

A memorial service will be conducted at the Chapel of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 31, 2017. Friends may share a memory or express their condolences at www.chapman-black.com.