Retired TPD Officer Mickey Ethridge, 86, died July 8, 2017. Born April 28, 1931, on her grandpa's farm in Monett, MO, Mickey's family moved to Tulsa when she was 5. She graduated from Will Rogers H.S. in 1949. After a year at OU and various office jobs, Mickey found her true calling in 1955 when she joined the police department. Mickey was the only one of the five women in her class who made TPD a career, staying 31 years until her retirement in 1986.

Starting as a traffic cop at 4th and Main, wearing the required skirt and no gun, Mickey told of having to chase down a suspect and tackle him with her skirt up around her ears as she had no other option. When the department considered allowing pants for female officers, Mickey was chosen to model the uniform choices. Once when Lady Bird Johnson came to town, Mickey was proud to be assigned to escort her but had to walk the parade route in heels! Mickey eventually became a Detective and handled juvenile cases and later child abuse and sex crimes. She would harass DAs to file charges to get justice for child victims and was named Officer of the Year in 1982 for her child abuse case work. Like most officers, she worked second jobs, which led to one incident where she arrested a woman who tried to shoplift a lantern, not realizing it was blinking off and on under her dress!

After retirement in her 60s, Mickey ran in 2 12-mile races and twice biked across the state in "Free Wheel."

Recently given a grim cancer diagnosis, she faced it head-on and courageously, telling friends, "I'm not dead yet." Her last days were at Aberdeen Heights, where she made new friends and was well cared for by the great staff, especially Sandy Watashe, who became like family.

Mickey is preceded in death by her parents, Luther and Margaret; brother, Bill; sister, Norma; and dear friend, Frances. With her until the end was her 14-year old Chihuahua, Max, who is now with her in Heaven. Her wit and wisdom will be missed by her friends, especially Corbin Hopkins and Donna Priore, both of whom she frequently treated to dinner. Mickey's was a life well lived.

Private services.

Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel, 918-585-1151