Smith Gallo Funeral Home
Logan Co, OK
(permission granted)

Waneta Ruth (Eck) Creel was born July 5, 1953, to Waldo and Waneta Beatrice )Davis) Eck in Enid, Oklahoma. She went to be with her Lord in the early morning of September 16, 2021 at the age of 68 years, and 73 days.

As a child, Waneta Ruth enjoyed the life of a farmer's daughter. She liked playing with cats, eating fried home-grown chicken, buttered corn on the cob, and cold watermelon. Because her mother was an excellent cook who taught her daughters how to cook, Waneta learned the special art of cooking and baking to please appetites. At the tender age of four years old, Waneta was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Doctors told her parents she would not live past her teens, probably never marry nor bear a child. Though diabetes threatened her life, she was determined to live life to its fullest, and by the grace of God, she did.

Her father loved to sing so she learned to play the autoharp and sing with him. Often she sang special songs in church with her father, uncle, and cousins. They sang at family reunions, funerals and at different gospel gatherings. This foundation built into her a love of good harmony and inspiring songs. Often it was good Christian music that carried her through many hard battles of life. Waneta graduated with honors from Covington High School in 1971. She made good friends with her classmates and kept in touch with many of them throughout her lifetime.

In 1973, she met the love of her life, Leroy Creel, and they were married September 14 of that year. In time the Lord blessed them and she gave birth to a healthy son on March 14, 1979. United together, Leroy and Waneta trained their beloved son to be respectful, responsible, and to have good work ethics. Later in life, when Waneta would be in a battle of affliction, she would thank the Lord for blessing her above and beyond by giving her a husband and then a son to love. By the grace of God, Waneta had surpassed way beyond the doctors' predictions in her childhood.

Waneta leaves to mourn her passing, her son, Daniel, and his wife, Rhonda, and her three greatly loved granddaughters, Bridgette, Courtney, and Jillian Creel, all of Edmond, Oklahoma. One remaining sister, Berniece Miles, of Edmond, Oklahoma; one brother-in-law, Vernon Miles, of Guthrie, Oklahoma, and one sister-in-law, Linda Mize of Denver, Colorado. She is also survived by three step-daughter-in-laws: Pat Creel, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, Anna Creel of Enid, Oklahoma, and Shirley Creel of Enid, Oklahoma; and a good size number of loved step-grandchildren and step-great-grands, and she enjoyed her visits with them. Also, to a host of caring nieces and nephews, she was "Aunt Waneta", and she wore that title well as hostess when any of them came by to visit or give her a call. They will miss her hospitality or those long visits via phone. She will also be missed by many cousins and friends who also benefited from her warm "You're welcome here" policy and her nice visits.

Waneta Ruth is preceded in death by her parents, Waldo and Beatrice Eck; two sisters, Bertha Miles and Lillie East; and two brothers, Hurley Eck and Larry Eck; one stepdaughter, Sharon Roberson; and three stepsons: Stanley Creel, Jim Creel, and Eddie Creel.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Monday, September 20, 2021 at Church of God Evening Light Chapel. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Memorial Park. Services are under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, 220 North 1st St., Guthrie, Oklahoma 73044. Visitation will be Sunday, 4:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. at Smith-Gallo Funeral Home.

Friends may sign the online guestbook at www.smithgallo.com.