Betty Ruth Vagedes

Betty Ruth Johnson Schoech Vagedes, 91, passed away peacefully on August 7, 2026, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of strength, perseverance, faith, love, laughter, and devotion to her family and community.

Betty was born on February 18, 1935, in the home of her grandparents in Roff, Oklahoma. Her grandfather, Joseph T. Roff, founded the town of Roff, and Betty was immensely proud of her family heritage and the legacy she carried throughout her life. She was the daughter of Sybil Ann Roff Johnson and Arthur Lee Johnson.

Betty’s childhood changed forever when her mother died of cancer just one day before Betty’s 11th birthday. After her mother’s death, Betty lived with various relatives. Those early years were difficult and shaped the extraordinary strength and determination that would remain with her throughout her life.

Betty completed her junior and senior years at Roff High School. After graduation, she moved to Oklahoma City and began working for Bell Telephone Company. She briefly lived at the YWCA before getting an apartment with a friend and beginning her independent life.

Betty married Lalen Schoech Sr., and together they had seven children. One child died at birth. When her marriage ended and she was left to raise her children on her own, Betty faced a challenge that would have overwhelmed many. At a time when women had far fewer legal and financial rights than they do today, she determined that she would provide a secure home for her children.

One of Betty’s greatest dreams was to build a home for herself and her children. Through determination and perseverance, she obtained what was then known as a 235 loan, a low-income home loan, and succeeded in building a small house for her family. That home represented far more than four walls—it was a symbol of Betty’s independence, determination, and promise to her children that they would have a place to call home.

Betty worked at several hotels as a night clerk while raising her family before beginning her career at Tinker Field. While working full-time, she took college classes and ultimately graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Liberal Arts. She continued advancing in her civil service career and eventually retired as a GS-13, an extraordinary professional accomplishment for a woman of her generation.

But Betty’s accomplishments extended far beyond her career. She was an active and devoted mother who believed her children should experience the world and have every opportunity to learn. She served as a Girl Scout leader and den mother and was deeply involved in her children’s lives. Every two weeks, she took them to the library. She took them to museums and to Will Rogers Park, where they loved building dams. She made learning, exploring, and spending time together part of everyday life.

Betty was, in many ways, a true pioneer for women of her generation. Long before it was common to speak openly about women’s independence and equality, Betty was living those principles. She worked, earned her education, built a home, advanced in her career, and raised her family largely on her own. She believed that women could—and should—build lives of their own.

When her youngest child went away to college, Betty received a promotion that took her to Japan, where she worked on the base for four years. After returning to the United States, another promotion brought her to Dayton, Ohio.

It was there that Betty met Paul Vagedes, the love of her life. They married and built a wonderful life together. By then, their children were adults, and Betty and Paul brought their two families together, creating a blended family of 16 children.

After several years in Ohio, Betty and Paul retired to Fairfield Bay, Arkansas, where they enjoyed many happy years together. They became active in their church and community and helped start a fitness center. They served on numerous community committees and were deeply involved in the life of Fairfield Bay. They built many lasting friendships and cherished the wonderful life they created together.

Her Faith

Betty was a convert to the Catholic faith, a decision that became one of the most meaningful parts of her life. Before her first marriage, Betty accompanied a friend to RCIA classes at Our Lady’s Cathedral, intending simply to learn more about the faith her friend was considering. As Betty sat in the church, however, she experienced a profound sense that she had found the true Church. What began as an act of friendship became a life-changing personal journey of faith.

Betty was baptized, made her First Confession, and received her First Communion on the day she married her first husband at Our Lady’s Cathedral. From that day forward, her Catholic faith remained an important and deeply held part of her life. She remained devoted to her faith until the end of her life.

During her years in Fairfield Bay, Betty was active in her church and served on numerous community committees. She and Paul were deeply involved in their church and community and gave their time and energy to causes and organizations that helped make Fairfield Bay a special place to live.

One of the most precious memories of Betty’s faith and family life came during the final days of her beloved mother-in-law, Clara Schoech. When Clara was dying of cancer, Betty and Paul returned to Oklahoma City and stayed in Clara’s home, helping care for her while she received hospice care.

During those tender days, Betty’s first husband passed away. Betty and Paul were then able to have their marriage blessed by Father Richard Stansbury at Clara’s bedside. Father Stansbury, who will officiate Betty’s Funeral Mass, was able to give this blessing in the presence of Clara as she received hospice care.

This moment became a deeply treasured memory for Betty and for the entire family. It brought together so many of the people and things that meant the most to Betty—her Catholic faith, her beloved Paul, her precious relationship with Clara, and her family. It was a beautiful and sacred moment that Betty carried in her heart for the rest of her life.

Betty shared a particularly special bond with Clara Schoech. What began as a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship grew into something much deeper. Clara and Betty became like mother and daughter. Clara helped raise Betty’s children during the years Betty was working and building her career, and Betty remained deeply grateful for her love and support. Their relationship was one of the special gifts of Betty’s life.

The Betty Everyone Knew

Betty always had a beautiful smile that could light up a room. Her cheerful voice had a way of making people feel better and making difficult circumstances seem not quite so bad.

Betty loved her children fiercely. She protected them at all costs, but she was also never afraid to let them know when she wasn’t happy with something they were doing. Her children always knew where they stood—and, more importantly, they always knew they were loved.

She loved beautiful clothes and especially loved her high heels. Her teenage sons jokingly claimed that a high heel was her “weapon of choice” when they needed correcting—although her daughters don’t remember it quite that way!

Betty had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to tell the corny jokes she and her friends had shared since their high school days. She also loved singing silly songs with her children, including the familiar refrain, “The rabbit ain’t got no tail at all.” These songs, jokes, stories, and moments of laughter became cherished family memories.

Her Family

Betty’s greatest joy was her family. She loved her children fiercely and embraced her stepchildren and grandchildren with that same generous heart. After marrying Paul, she loved all of their children and treasured the large family they created together.

Betty had a remarkable gift for making every one of her grandchildren feel like they were her favorite. No matter how large her family grew, each grandchild felt seen, cherished, and uniquely loved. She had an enormous heart, yet somehow made each person feel as though they held a special place in it all their own.

Betty is survived by her children Francesca Zahrai, and boyfriend Mike; Lesli Griggs, and husband Mike; Lalen Schoech Jr., and wife Jen; Martin Schoech, and wife Trudy; Jon Schoech, and wife Dianna; and Lodie Schlegel. She is survived by 49 grandchildren and 76 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild ,each of whom held a special place in her heart.

She is also survived by her stepchildren Mark Vagedes, and spouse Nancy; Scott Vagedes, and spouse Christine; Michael Vagedes, and spouse Linette; Peter Vagedes, and significant other Janet; Matthew Vagedes, and spouse Nadia; Joseph Vagedes, and spouse Carolyn; Joan Thayer, and spouse Russ; Janet Sargent, and spouse Steve; Linda Wilson, and spouse Tom; and David Vagedes, and spouse Suzie.

Betty was preceded in death by her beloved husband and the love of her life, Paul Vagedes. She was also preceded in death by her children Teresa Schlegel and Richard Schoech, who died in infancy; her grandchildren Jason Frazier, Kara Schoech, Shanna Schoech, Demetrious Hash, and Kamran Zahrai; her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Clara and Arnold Schoech; her sister, Mary Ann McClain; her brother, Jack Johnson; her stepbrothers, Loren and Bill Ballew; and her parents, Sybil Ann Roff Johnson and Arthur Lee Johnson, and stepmother Carrie Wayne Johnson and special niece Joni McClain. She was also preceded in death by many beloved cousins, aunts, uncles, and other family members who were dear to her.

Betty often said she was “the last of the Mohicans,” a reflection of how deeply she cherished her family history and how keenly aware she was that she had become one of the last links to earlier generations.

Her Final Days

Paul passed away in 2020. In her later years, for health reasons, Betty returned to Oklahoma City and lived with her daughter, Lesli, until her death.

Betty spent her final days in the home of her daughter, surrounded by the love of her family. At the time of her passing, two of her daughters and a granddaughter were by her side. They shared stories, laughter, and precious memories together, surrounding Betty with the same love and warmth she had given them throughout her life.

Betty’s life was one of extraordinary determination. She endured the loss of her mother as a child, raised six children largely on her own, built a home for her family when women faced significant barriers to financial independence, worked full-time while earning her college degree, built a successful civil service career, achieved the rank of GS-13, worked overseas, found the love of her life, served her community, and created a large and loving family.

But perhaps her greatest legacy was not her degrees, promotions, or accomplishments. It was the love she gave.

Her family will remember her beautiful smile, her cheerful voice, her laughter, her high heels, her songs, her corny jokes, her fierce protection, and the way she could make every person she loved feel special.

Betty’s greatest legacy is the family she loved fiercely and the joy she brought into their lives. Her beautiful smile may be gone from the room, but it will live on in the hearts and memories of all who loved her.

Services

A wake service for Betty will be held at 7:00 p.m. at Smith & Kernke Funeral Home, 14624 North May Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73134.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 3214 North Lake Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73118.

Following the Funeral Mass, Betty will be laid to rest at Resurrection Memorial Cemetery, 7801 Northwest Expressway, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73132.

A reception will follow the burial. Additional information regarding the reception will be provided at a later date.

In Lieu of Flowers

Betty’s family kindly requests no flowers. In keeping with Betty’s lifelong commitment to helping others, memorial contributions may be made in her honor to organizations whose missions reflect causes that were meaningful to her, including the YWCA, Birthright, Habitat for Humanity, or a local women’s shelter.