Obituary for Marlene L. Ladd (Gates)
Born the only child of Leonard and Mae Gates on July 1, 1936 in Stillwater, OK Marlene Ladd passed into the arms of her Savior surrounded by her family on October 20, 2019
At the age of six she and her family moved to the South Oklahoma City community when Leonard joined the Tinker Air Force Base Fire Department.
Marlene was fun-loving and active as a child and young adult. She loved to play baseball, go on fishing trips with her dad and enjoyed spending time with her many friends. She attended and graduated from Capitol Hill High school, a proud Redskin, in 1954. As a sophomore, she met the love of her life, Don Ladd. After Marlene graduated high school and Don finished his first semester at OU, they were married on January 26, 1955 at Capitol Hill Christian Church, where they remained active members for many years.
Marlene continued her education by completing a business course at Draughn’s Business College. She then joined the financial management division at Tinker AFB in order to support the couple while Don completed his studies at OU. Daughter Linda was born just before Don graduated from OU and he began his career. The couple decided together that Marlene would stop working and stay at home with Linda. Four years later they were blessed with another daughter, Terri. Marlene continued to care for the girls from infancy through high school. After building and moving to their current home in 1970, Marlene began a part time job as secretary for the Southwest Homebuilders Association. Through that job, she developed an interest in the real estate business and became a Realtor in 1977. She enjoyed a long and successful career, finding and selling homes for hundreds of happy clients. Several years later, Don would join her in the real estate business and they would work together until their retirement in 2016.
Don and Marlene traveled often, bowled in a league with their good friends the Hahns, enjoyed dancing together and attending the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, and most of all, loved spending time with their family and friends. Marlene was an extraordinary wife, mother and grandmother and she adored her four grandchildren Katie, Frankie, Mason & Zac.
She will always be remembered as a beautiful, vivacious, people-loving lady who will be deeply missed by all those whose lives she touched.
She is survived by her loving & devoted husband Don; two daughters Linda Matlock & her husband Ron; Terri Gasaway & her husband Tony; four grandchildren Katie Brown and her husband Taylor, Frankie Gasaway, Mason Matlock, and Zachary Gasaway.
The family would like to thank the management, staff and nurses at Legend at Rivendell Memory Care for their care and service to Marlene over the past year. Also, many thanks to all of the nurses and support staff at Humanity Hospice that have provided extraordinary care and compassion to Marlene and her family over the past several months.
In Lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association 6601 Broadway Extension Suite 120 Oklahoma City, OK 73116
At the age of six she and her family moved to the South Oklahoma City community when Leonard joined the Tinker Air Force Base Fire Department.
Marlene was fun-loving and active as a child and young adult. She loved to play baseball, go on fishing trips with her dad and enjoyed spending time with her many friends. She attended and graduated from Capitol Hill High school, a proud Redskin, in 1954. As a sophomore, she met the love of her life, Don Ladd. After Marlene graduated high school and Don finished his first semester at OU, they were married on January 26, 1955 at Capitol Hill Christian Church, where they remained active members for many years.
Marlene continued her education by completing a business course at Draughn’s Business College. She then joined the financial management division at Tinker AFB in order to support the couple while Don completed his studies at OU. Daughter Linda was born just before Don graduated from OU and he began his career. The couple decided together that Marlene would stop working and stay at home with Linda. Four years later they were blessed with another daughter, Terri. Marlene continued to care for the girls from infancy through high school. After building and moving to their current home in 1970, Marlene began a part time job as secretary for the Southwest Homebuilders Association. Through that job, she developed an interest in the real estate business and became a Realtor in 1977. She enjoyed a long and successful career, finding and selling homes for hundreds of happy clients. Several years later, Don would join her in the real estate business and they would work together until their retirement in 2016.
Don and Marlene traveled often, bowled in a league with their good friends the Hahns, enjoyed dancing together and attending the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, and most of all, loved spending time with their family and friends. Marlene was an extraordinary wife, mother and grandmother and she adored her four grandchildren Katie, Frankie, Mason & Zac.
She will always be remembered as a beautiful, vivacious, people-loving lady who will be deeply missed by all those whose lives she touched.
She is survived by her loving & devoted husband Don; two daughters Linda Matlock & her husband Ron; Terri Gasaway & her husband Tony; four grandchildren Katie Brown and her husband Taylor, Frankie Gasaway, Mason Matlock, and Zachary Gasaway.
The family would like to thank the management, staff and nurses at Legend at Rivendell Memory Care for their care and service to Marlene over the past year. Also, many thanks to all of the nurses and support staff at Humanity Hospice that have provided extraordinary care and compassion to Marlene and her family over the past several months.
In Lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association 6601 Broadway Extension Suite 120 Oklahoma City, OK 73116