Susan Rippy Matlock, beloved mother, grandmother, educator, and friend, passed away peacefully on May 24, 2025, at the age of 77. A celebration of Susan's life will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, June 6, 2025 at the Stillwater First United Methodist Church, where stories, laughter, and love will be shared in her honor. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.

Born in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Susan was the daughter of the late Dr. Orville and Mary V Rippy and the sister of the late Gary Rippy. A proud graduate of CE Donart High School in 1965 and Oklahoma State University, Susan dedicated her life to education, enriching the minds and lives of countless students across Oklahoma and Texas.

Her career began in Midwest City, where she taught elementary education before returning to her hometown of Stillwater in 1991 to help take care of her parents. There, she inspired students as a World Cultures teacher at Stillwater Middle School. She also lovingly served as house mother to the Sigma Nu fraternity at OSU. After 33 years of teaching, Susan retired from Oklahoma Public Schools, but she couldn't sit still for long-she moved to Lewisville, Texas, to teach at Huffines Middle School. She retired again in 2017, only to return home to Stillwater and become the house mother for Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Her devotion to students, both in and out of the classroom, was unmatched.

Susan had a remarkable gift for gathering and giving. She collected antiques, dishes, decorations-and most importantly, friends. Her home was always open, her table always full, and her heart even fuller. She found joy in the little things: a good cookbook, a weekend trip to Colorado, a day spent antiquing with loved ones or hosting one of her many well-loved gatherings.

She served her community with the same energy she brought to her family and career. She volunteered on the boards of the Sheerar Cultural Center and Fairlawn Cemetery, and was a proud member of P.E.O. and Pi Beta Phi.

Susan is survived by her sons, Scott Matlock and wife Desiree of Stillwater, and Ryan Matlock and wife Mandi of Gretna, Nebraska. She was the cherished "GMa" to her four grandchildren, Porter, Lydia, Mary, and Jack and more recently, becoming 'adopted' GMa to Jean and Riley Pixler and Colby and Shelby Jenkins. Susan's life was always full of love and connections.

Susan often reminded those around her of what truly matters: "To love unconditionally. Friends and family are all you have in the world." She lived those words every single day.

She will be deeply missed-but her legacy of kindness, generosity, and joy will live on in all who knew her.

Donations can be made in Susan's name to the Rippy Fellowship at Stillwater Medical Center by visiting https://smc-foundation.org/give/donate-now/ or by calling 405-742-5387.