Cheryl Ann Ramsey

Cheryl Ann Ramsey passed away on October 11, 2026, with her loving family by her side. Born June 6, 1951, in Vinita, Oklahoma, to Clyde and Marleta Ramsey, Cheryl was a woman of remarkable strength, determination, compassion, and character. Throughout her life, she refused to let others define what she could accomplish. And in doing so, she left her mark. 

   Cheryl spent part of her younger years in Pawhuska before making Stillwater her home. Growing up during a time when women were often told there were things they simply could not do, Cheryl was determined to prove otherwise. In fact, telling Cheryl she couldn’t do something was often the surest way to make her do it. 

   That determination led her to law school and into a profession largely dominated by men. She attended Oklahoma State University before earning her law degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law. Cheryl began her career as an Assistant District Attorney for Payne and Logan Counties before becoming a Special Judge for Payne County while still in her twenties. She later entered private practice and became a highly respected criminal defense attorney.

   Cheryl married fellow attorney Chris Szlichta, and together they built both a life and a successful law practice. Through Szlichta & Ramsey, they practiced law together in Stillwater for many years. Over a legal career spanning more than four decades, Cheryl became a respected voice in Oklahoma’s legal community. She served as president of the Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, participated in numerous state legal committees and commissions, mentored fellow attorneys, and received professional honors.

   Throughout her career, Cheryl carried one belief close to her heart: Everyone deserved a second chance. She understood that a person’s worst decision or darkest moment did not have to define the rest of their life. When others had already counted someone out, Cheryl was willing to stand in their corner. She knew what it meant to be told what you couldn’t become, and she spent her life proving otherwise. But for all Cheryl accomplished professionally, her greatest legacy was found in the people she loved. At the center of Cheryl’s world was her only daughter, Jennifer Ramsey Hanson, whom she loved dearly. Jennifer and her husband, Jason Hanson, gave Cheryl three of the greatest joys of her life—her grandchildren, Jack, Jaylee, and Jett.

   Cheryl was an amazing chef, and food was one of the many ways she showed her love. Every Sunday, she baked cookies for her grandchildren and brought them over so they would have Grandma’s cookies in their school lunches throughout the week. It was a simple tradition that spoke volumes about the love she had for them. Those cookies were more than a sweet treat; they were a little piece of Grandma’s love tucked into their lunches each day. Cheryl was also a devoted Oklahoma State University fan and loved cheering on the Cowboys. She was equally passionate about the New York Yankees. She loved good food, good company, and the people who made her life meaningful.

    In her later years, Alzheimer’s disease slowly changed many things, but it could never erase the extraordinary woman Cheryl had been, the life she built, or the impact she made. Cheryl is survived by her beloved daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Jason Hanson; her grandchildren, Jack, Jaylee, and Jett Hanson; her stepdaughter, Christian Whitney, and her husband, Barrett, and their daughter, Isla; her stepson, Jared Szlichta, and his wife, Lori, and their children, Hailey, Maddison, Kori, Kodi, and Isaac; and her cousin, Carla Campbell. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clyde and Marleta Ramsey, and her husband and law partner, Chris Szlichta. Cheryl was a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, judge, attorney, advocate, mentor, and friend. She worked hard. She loved deeply. She cooked wonderfully. She cheered loudly. She stood up for what she believed in. She believed in second chances. And when someone told her she couldn’t do something, she had a way of proving that she could. 

   Her family will remember the accomplished attorney and respected judge, but even more, they will remember Mom and Grandma—the Sunday cookies, the meals, the laughter, the OSU games, the Yankees, her strength, her determination, and all the ordinary moments that now mean everything. Alzheimer’s may have changed the final chapter of Cheryl’s story, but it will never define her story. Her life will. Cheryl Ann Ramsey was here. She mattered. She made a difference. And she left her mark. 

  A Special Thank You from Jennifer and her family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Luminos Hospice for the compassionate care, comfort, and support they provided Cheryl and her family. A very special and heartfelt thank-you goes to Legacy Village Memory Care in Stillwater, especially the remarkable ladies of the lower-level memory care community who cared for Cheryl. These women were so much more than caregivers. They became part of our family. They loved Cheryl, laughed with her, comforted her, protected her dignity, and cared for her with a tenderness that went far beyond their responsibilities. They came to know Cheryl not simply as someone living with Alzheimer's, but as a person with a beautiful history, a strong personality, and a lifetime of memories. They not only made a difference in Cheryl's life; they made a lasting impact on ours. Through one of the most difficult chapters of our lives, these extraordinary women gave us peace, comfort, friendship, and the reassurance that Cheryl was genuinely loved. They will forever hold a special place in our hearts. We will never be able to thank them enough for the love they gave Cheryl and the kindness they showed our entire family.