Patty Janelle Smith was born October 28, 1939 in Greenfield, Oklahoma to Freeman and Lorene Cooke. She died September 9, 2021 in Edmond, Oklahoma. She was 81.
Patty was raised on the family farm, and attended school in Geary, Oklahoma. She graduated from Geary High School in 1957. While in school she was involved in many clubs and activities. She played the snare drum in the marching band, was the wrestling homecoming queen, and was a starting guard on the Geary Bison basketball team. She was known for her red head of hair!
Patty began dating Don Smith, the love of her life, in 1955, when she was fifteen. They married on July 4, 1958 in Geary. Don’s position with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation led them to live in several small towns in Oklahoma. In 1963, Don was transferred to Guthrie which became the couple’s permanent home. Don and Patty were married 43 years until his death in 2001.
After moving to Guthrie, Patty began working as the secretary for the First United Methodist Church. She then stayed home for a few years when their two daughters, Dana Gayle and Diana Jean were born. She returned to work for the City of Guthrie. In 1975, she began working for the Logan County Court Clerk’s office. She was there for 24 years before retiring to take care of Don, who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) in 1998. After Don died in 2001, Patty returned to work part time as a secretary/bailiff at the Logan County Court House. Patty permanently retired in 2007.
Patty loved going dancing with Don and endured his love of going to the lake! There was nothing they enjoyed more together than following anything Dana and Diana were involved in. Patty coached both of her girls in softball and drove them and many other kids to more softball, basketball, twirling, and cheerleading competitions than you can imagine! She never missed a single event or game her daughters were in.
Her grandchildren, however, were her pride and joy. Patty was a wonderful “Grandmom” who made each of her four grandchildren, Cale, Addy Kate, Blake, and Jackson, feel uniquely loved. She enjoyed traveling with them and took each one on a special trip. Everyone had an individual breakfast order that she would lovingly make anytime a grandchild spent the night. Her swimming pool was open all summer and her freezer was stocked with everyone’s favorite ice cream.
In the last three years of her life, Patty was cared for and loved by a team of wonderful caregivers. We would like to thank Tracy Thornton, Rhonda Ward, Deborah Cherry, Kim Eaton, Beverly Quigley, Beth Seifert and Amy Cornwell. We would also like to thank the staff of Iris Memory Care and Frontier Hospice.
Patty was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Marcia Goode and her husband Don.
She is survived by her children, Dana Curtin and husband, Shane, Diana Waddell and husband, Steve; grandchildren, Cale Curtin, Addy Kate Hlad, Blake Curtin and Jackson Waddell; brother-in-law, Bob Goode; two nieces and three nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at First United Methodist Church with Chaplain Gene Owen officiating. Services are under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, 220 North 1st St., Guthrie, OK 73044.
Closed casket visitation will be held Tuesday, 2:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. at Smith-Gallo Funeral Home.
M e m o r i a l contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, ALZ.org.
Friends may sign the online guestbook at www.smithgallo.com.