Pocola Woman Holding Out Hope Her Elderly Mother Will Be Found

Leslye Burke has been going non-stop since late last week, when she learned her mother had gone missing.

Wednesday, October 24th 2012, 6:38 pm

By: News On 6

Pocola Woman Holding Out Hope Her Elderly Mother Will Be Found

A LeFlore County family is desperate to find their missing loved one.

Ruby Poole was last seen in Pocola one week ago Wednesday night.

Her daughter has joined investigators in an exhausting search, but they still can't find Ruby.

Poole is 74 years old and suffers from dementia.

She lives in her Pocola home, next-door to her eldest daughter Leslye Burke.

"I'm tired, exhausted," Burke said.

Burke has been going non-stop since late last week, when she learned her mother had gone missing.

Ruby Poole was last seen walking down the street at 11:30 p.m. on October 17.

It's only a half mile from her home, but across the street from a major highway.

Burke said it's not unusual for her mother to go for walks, but she would never do it after the sun had set.

"Strange, yes. This is definitely strange," Burke said.

Poole grew up in Pocola and was well known in the community.

She was last seen wearing a checkered jacket, purple sweater, blue jeans, and black shoes.

Burke has spent the past week driving from Pocola to Muskogee to Little Rock to Fayetteville – all over - posting flyers asking for help from anyone who might help her find her mother.

"I feel like a crazy person, I really do. I really do. I can't think, because my mother's not at home. I don't know where she could be," Burke said.

Pocola Police said, even though it's been nearly a week since she was last seen, the weather here has been exceptionally good and they're hopeful that she's still alive.

"Other than the dementia she really has no health problems that would concern us at this point," said Officer Barry Riggs.

Burke said she won't stop looking until she finds her mother.

She said, despite suffering from dementia, her mother is very resilient and able to take care of herself, and she hopes someone will recognize her picture.

"I keep my hopes up, and it's like, this is the day I'm going to bring my momma home. I'm going to find her walking and she's going to say, 'There's my... I know baby, I knew you would find me.' I can just hear her voice saying, 'Ann, I knew you would find me,'" Burke said.

If you've seen Ms. Poole or have some information that might help her family find her you can call the Pocola Police Department at 918-436-2476.