Shawn Dewayne Ritter, Sr., was born to Alvie Ritter and Carla (Hopkins) Smith in Stilwell, Oklahoma on May 27, 1980.
The Lord called him home on January 20, 2008, at the age of 27 years, eight months and three days.
Shawn lived in the Stilwell area his entire life and attended Zion and Stilwell Public Schools.
On December 18, 1999, he married Kendra Mays and their union was blessed with two children, Shawn Jr., and Gracie. Shawn was a devoted husband and father. His family meant everything to him and he kept them close.
He was a member of Liberty Baptist Church where he had served as a Sunday School teacher and AWANA Commander. In his spare time, he enjoyed carving rocks.
He was preceded in death by an infant child, grandparents; Rolan and Hazel Ritter and Glenn Burnett, three cousins; Kaleb Hopkins, Juan Rogers and Shane Gunner, several aunts, uncles and one sibling.
Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Kendra Ritter, of the home, two children; Shawn Ritter, Jr., and Gracie Ritter of the home, his parents; Alvie and Charline Ritter of Bunch, OK., Carla and Steve Smith of Stilwell, four brothers; Howard Hopkins and wife Calisa, and Jake Hopkins of Stilwell, Alvie Ritter, Jr., and Sebastian Ritter of Bunch, OK, sisters; Andrea Ritter and Sadie Ritter of Bunch, OK, grandparents; Orie and Charlotte Hopkins, Christine Hopkins and Fannie Pack all of Stilwell, and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and lots of friends.
Funeral services were held Saturday, February 2, 2008, at the George E. Starr Fieldhouse at Zion School with Pastor Don Waldrop officiating.
Interment followed at Zion Cemetery under the direction of Hart Funeral Home.