Ruth Hughey Piland

Ruth Hughey Piland, age 81, passed away with family by her side September 1, 2023, at her home in Possum Kingdom Lake, Texas. Ruth was born July 27, 1942, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to Charles and Julene Hughey.

Ruth was raised in Bartlesville, graduated Bartlesville High School in 1960, and then attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. She began working for Phillips 66 in Bartlesville when she met her future husband, Jackie Piland, at the A&W Root Beer Drive-In. They were married, August 30, 1963, and soon relocated to Houston where Jack worked for Cadenhead Construction. Ruth and Jack had their 60^th wedding anniversary just a day before she passed.

Ruth and Jack welcomed their only child, Heidi, on October 13, 1965, and soon afterwards moved to Hurst, Texas where they lived for the next 30 years. Ruth worked for many years for Burlington Northern railroad, and her and Jack ultimately retired in the mid 90’s and moved to Possum Kingdom Lake fulltime.

Ruth and Jack have been fixtures at Possum Kingdom Lake and have many friends to show for it. Ruth had a wonderful smile and sense of humor, and deeply cared for her husband, Jack, her daughter Heidi, and her only grandchild, Sloane. She was never happier than having her family visit and stay the weekend at their lake place.

Ruth is survived by her sister, Gloria Ford; husband, Jack Piland; daughter Heidi Urban and husband Stacy; granddaughter Sloane Cooper and four nieces and nephews, Tami Letters, Brent Shirey, Stacy Mims and Sara Forsythe.

The family extends their gratitude towards the team at the PKWSC and the paramedics who worked to save Ruth’s life this past Friday morning, and the outpouring of support from the Possum Kingdom community.

A graveside service will be held Saturday, September 9th at 10am, at Pickwick-McAdams Cemetery at Possum Kingdom Lake. A reception will follow at the Possum Kingdom Chamber of Commerce. If you desire, a donation can be made to the Polycystic Kidney Foundation at pdkcure.org.