Dodge City - Ethel Arlene Rooney, 84, long time resident of Dodge City, passed away on Monday, May 10, 2021. She was best known as Rusty for her red hair and fiery spirit and was born January 17, 1937, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Clevella Marguerite Martin Klimek and Charles Lawton Bridges.

She worked many years in the food service industry and was also a caretaker.  She loved nothing more than to fix her family a delicious meal to show her love and affection. Her door was always open, and family and friends could always expect a fresh pot of coffee at Rusty's as she loved to laugh and chat, play gin rummy or pitch, and sip a cup of coffee with you at her kitchen table, she didn't believe in too big of a crowd. She loved country music, solving word and jigsaw puzzles, and jelly beans. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren loved how fun and silly grandma Rusty was and could always expect a tickle round with grandma's finger puppet, Boojie. Rusty loved making other people laugh with her stories of years past.

A beloved mother and grandmother, she is preceded in death by both parents; step-father, Harold Klimek; husband, Archie Rex Rooney; son, Dennis Ray Bridges; grandson, Ralph Anthony Andrews, sister; Cheryl Wedel; and brothers. Dale Smith and Charles Bridges, Jr.

Rusty is survived by her daughters, Sharon Combs of Lincoln, Nebraska and Betty Glaze of Gainesville, Georgia; Debbie Johnson of Albany, Oregon; sons, Clyde Johnson of Oswego, and Jack Rooney (Wendi) of Boiling Springs, South Carolina; brothers, Rex Kasper (Sandy) of Wichita,  LeRoy Smith of Wellington, and Leo Smith of Wichita; 11 grandkids; 22 great grandkids; and 3 great-great grandkids as well as a host of family and close friends and her loving protector and companion, her dog, Bojangles.

Funeral service will be held at Swaim Funeral Chapel, Dodge City on Monday. May 17, 2021 at 2:00 PM.  Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Dodge City.  Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel on Monday May 17, 2021 from 9:00 AM until service time.  Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.