Ruth Carolyn Harness

Ruth was born on April 9, 1947, in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Harley and Carol Pitts, with three brothers, Peter, David and Stephen.

Ruth is survived by her son Michael Lee and her husband, Leslie Harness.

Ruth graduated from Midwest City High School in 1965. Ruth immediately went to work in the construction industry with an electrical contractor as receptionist; at first, conveniently living in an apartment upstairs from their office. During her career she worked for three contractors, where her last responsibility was Administrative Assistant to the President.

With her career in the construction industry, she became a member of the National Association of Women in Construction and was heavily involved with their Oklahoma chapter. Ruth loved horseback riding, golfing, tennis, the Bee Gees, Elvis, Hawaii, ancient Egypt, sunrises and sunsets, and was a tremendous seamstress.

In September 1985 Ruth married Leslie Harness, who survives her wonderful marriage of 40 years.

Ruth loved to be around people, yet never desired to be in the spotlight. She shared her talents but was so very modest. In church groups her ideas were always fun and entertaining. For all of their programs she would create all the costumes.

In 2000 major health issues left Ruth paralyzed and in a wheelchair. This did not create a problem, as it was just a speed bump for her. She utilized the wheelchair as her new mode of transportation, where she could always be found in the hallways of the church giving children wheelchair rides, to show them there was nothing to fear of anyone in a wheelchair.

Ruth, after accumulating several chairs after 15 years in wheelchairs, organized and participated in wheelchair races with grandkids on weekends. Ruth also overcame leukemia, two bouts with breast cancer, 5 wound care surgeries, 4 other miscellaneous surgeries and skin cancer.

Ruth loved her cats and over the years had Harry, Harriette, Maui, Manele and Keley, all of whom have surrounded her in heaven.

Ruth was cremated and her ashes will be buried with parents and brothers at Arlington Memory Gardens, 3400 N. Midwest Blvd., Oklahoma City on October 18, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CDT.

We will update this obituary for the date, time, and location of A Celebration Of Her Beautiful Life the first of November.