Rhonda Faye Sutherland

RHONDA FAYE SUTHERLAND, the daughter of J.R. (Jinx) and Twila Sutherland of Gate, OK, was born March 13, 1953, in Dodge City, Kansas and went to join the Lord on December 13, 2025.

Rhonda grew up on the Sutherland family ranch in Beaver County, Oklahoma. She loved the outdoors and loved horses even before she could walk. She rode her pony, Moon, a million miles, and all the other horses on the ranch. She drove a buckboard with a team of horses, drove the tractor and bucked bales. She enjoyed basketball and was a fierce competitor, graduating from Gate High School.

She attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University and played two years of college basketball, then transferred to Panhandle State University on a rodeo scholarship. She qualified for the College Finals Rodeo in Bozeman, MT in break-away roping. After graduating with a BA, Rhonda attended North Texas State University, graduating with a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy.

Rhonda moved to Garden City, KS, working as an occupational therapist in numerous school systems. She joined the Garden City Public Schools as a volleyball and track coach, receiving numerous awards including Outstanding Woman of the Year and Teacher of the Year. She loved kids and continued working in Special Olympics in several cities in Kansas.

Her love for kids led her to "foster" several children, until one little blonde-haired boy came along, Roy Michael, whom she chose as her own, loving him through every phase of her life.

During this time, she continued her education and completed her second Master's degree in Counseling. Rhonda served as a counselor until her retirement, representing 38 years in education.

Rhonda never lost her love of horses and the outdoors. She loved working at the ranch and especially enjoyed the branding days, roping, and working in the sorting pens.

Rhonda was diagnosed with Parkinson's and in 2017 moved to Wynnewood, OK, to be near her sisters, Shalia and Renee. She battled the disease for fourteen years and in the last weeks of her life lived with her twin sister, Renee. She received great nursing care from a very special team.

She is preceded in death by parents, Jinx and Twila Sutherland, of Gate, OK.

She leaves to mourn her passing her son, Roy Michael Hutton; sisters Renee, Deloris Little and family, and Shalia & Marty Powers and family. As per her wishes, her ashes will be scattered on the Sutherland Ranch near Gate, OK, in the spring.

2 Timothy 4:7–8

*I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous