Elizabeth Ann Ketrick

Elizabeth Ketrick was born on January 7, 1951 in Queens, New York to Eve Mary Hatton and Paul John Ketrick. She died on July 18, 2019 in her home in Jenks, Oklahoma. When she was young the family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma. An alumna of Tulsa Junior College, University of Tulsa, and Northeastern State University, she spent 25 years working as a high school and middle school art teacher. Her humor and stories touched thousands of students' lives. Her talents shone in every aspect of her life. She followed her dreams back to the Big Apple and worked in theater before returning to Oklahoma to share her professional experiences with young artists in Tulsa schools. She loved her students as her own, and helped them find their wings through her love and quirky humor (including a strict no gum rule in class). Her talents were many and varied. She loved painting and sketching; gardening and sewing; making jewelry and decoupaging. Her home was a reflection of her eye for beauty and enthusiasm for life. She loved spending time with her close friends Laura Prisinzano, Nancy Fiore, Claudine Close, Annie and Chuck Tomlins, and Tim and Lynse Morgan at art walks, garden shows, and watching movies. She also loved her furry friends and enjoyed walking Pippa and Trinket, and cuddling up with a post-apocalyptic or alien invasion movie with cats Chippy, Kiki, Rocco, and Chester. Before teaching, Elizabeth worked in theater from 1979-1985 primarily as a costume designer. In 1979 she moved to her birthplace New York City to pursue her dream of working in theater. She was a wig stylist on the Broadway hit musical "Cats" and worked with Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival as a costumer. Other theater credits include: Chorus Line, Pirates of Penzance, Plenty at The Public Theatre, Death of Baron Von Richtofen, Hamlet at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park, Don Juan, and Midsummers Night Dream. Elizabeth was a student and enthusiast of feng shui and the esoteric and practiced many healing rituals that contributed to her well-being and enlightenment, including over 34 years of sobriety through Alcoholics Anonymous. In 1986 she gave birth to her only child, Cassandra Ketrick (Bizzaro), who was the light of her life. She shared her love of learning, creative spirit and wisdom with her daughter. Cassandra currently resides in New York with her husband David Bizzaro. In 2015, Elizabeth retired from Jenks Middle School and continued to reside in Jenks, Oklahoma. She is survived by her daughter, her brother, Mike "Poppy" Ketrick, sister-in-law "Christmas" Carol, niece and nephews Michelle "Doe", David (Leah) and Brian "Bondon" (Beth), great niece Tori and great nephews Charlie and Jack. When asked what she wants to be remembered for, she said "My humor." May we all enjoy laughter reminiscing about the fun times we had with her. In lieu of flowers, Elizabeth asks that donations be made in her honor to StreetCats () in Tulsa and the Humane Society of Tulsa (). Condolences, stories, or photos of Elizabeth can be sent to . The family would like to thank Stephanie of Good Shepherd Hospice for her care of Elizabeth in her final moments and Cancer Treatment Centers of America for their compassionate and outstanding holistic and medical care. The family would also like to thank her friends Laura and Greg Prisinzano and Nancy and Bill Fiore for their meaningful friendships to Elizabeth. Her daughter encourages people age 50 and on to get their regularly scheduled colonoscopies, or age 40 if there is a family history of colon cancer.

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Elizabeth Ann Ketrick

January 7, 1951 - July 18, 2019