Rita Sue (Thomas) Bruner was born on September 9, 1956 to Eliza Beaver and Ray Thomas.

Rita Sue (or Susie as she was better known) was raised in the Wetumka community and attended the Wetumka schools as a child. She was the youngest of three of her mother's children. She was very active in school activities including basketball, cheerleading and she played various woodwind instruments in the Wetumka High School band.

Rita Sue also attended church regularly with her family at Sand Creek Indian Baptist Church and, in fact, was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Wetumka where she accepted Jesus Christ as her savior.

Susie completed her high school education at the Eufaula Boarding school and Sequoyah Indian School from where she graduated. Rita later attended college first at Haskell Institute and afterwards Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. She practiced for several years in various medical institutions as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) until a physical ailment precluded her from continuing and forced her early retirement.

Rita returned to Wetumka where she lived for the last decade of her life.

Rita was preceded by both her parents and her older sister Lola Fields of Wetumka.

She is survived by her loving husband Paul Wayne "Charlie" Bruner and a brother Edwin Marshall, both of Wetumka OK, Also surviving are three sons including Danny Dwight Beaver (and wife Linda) of Beggs OK, Matthew Wawrzyniak of Andalusia Alabama and J.L. Thomas (and wife Haleigh) of Satsuma Alabama. Others left to cherish her memories are her grandchildren Peyton and Emily Beaver, Kasi Roughface, Cheyenne and Dakota Wawrzyniak, and Ella Thomas. She was very proud of all of her children and grandchildren. Others who will always love and never forget Susie are her nephews, nieces, cousins and dear friends.

A chapel service and family visitation will be conducted at the First Methodist Church in Wetumka on Sunday, February 23rd at 6:30 p.m. followed by a reception for friends and relatives. Lunch will also be provided at 11:30 before the funeral.

The funeral is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, February 24th. Officiating the service will be Rev. Mark Smith, Pastor of Middle Creek #1 Indian Baptist Church.

Pallbearers include: Peyton Beaver, Tracey Bell, Jordan Marshall, Micah Hill, Quinn Bell, and Billy Fields Jr.

Interment will follow at the Alabama Coushatta Indian Baptist Church cemetery.