Patricia Ann (Payne) Strack

Patricia Ann Payne Strack was born November 6, 1934, the fourth child of Henry and Carlyn Payne at their home northwest of Watonga, OK.  She passed away at age 84 in El Reno, OK on July 4th, 2019 after her struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

She attended school through 7th grade at a country school, Centralia and then to Hitchcock schools for grades 8 -12. She married Billy Joe Strack, her high school sweetheart after her graduation from Hitchcock on June 8, 1952 at the Methodist Church in Watonga, OK. They lived in the Watonga area their married life with the exception of a year in Virginia Beach, VA while Bill was serving in the United States Army. They had two children; Mark Strack of Geary, OK and Shelley Shrader (Danny) of Watonga, OK. They were married for sixty-three years.

She loved her family and extended family but especially being Gram to her grandchildren: April Shrader, Watonga; Tabbitha Kiener (Randal), Geary, OK; Todd Shrader, Blue Springs, MO and Aaron Shrader (Sytera), Independence, KS. She also had great-grandchildren: Gage Shrader, Gabe Kiener, Kale Shrader, Kace Shrader, Kameron Kiener, Garret Shrader, Kane Shrader and Florence Shrader.

She enjoyed a lengthy career beginning at the Draft Board in Watonga in 1953 and retiring from First National Bank of Okeene. She also worked at First United Methodist Church, United State Gypsum for seventeen years, Hollytex and Testco. She made many friends throughout her career. She also was a farm wife assisting Bill moving equipment and taking meals to the harvest fields for tailgate lunches and suppers.

In her spare time, she was an avid reader being a frequent visitor to the Watonga Public Library. She also enjoyed bus tours traveling with Bill or friends to see the USA. It wasn’t unusual for Bill and her to travel to Branson at least twice a year. They made many friends on these tours.

She was always ready for a game of cards especially the Payne family’s traditional Progressive Rummy, known and books and runs. She was also a champ at Chinese Checkers. She loved the game of basketball. She played it at Hitchcock in high school. But throughout the years she would attend high school games whether or not a family member was playing. She and Bill continued to attend until his death, mostly at Watonga. She could get loud at these games.

She is survived by her children Mark Strack and Shelley (Danny) Shrader and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Also, her sister, Donna Schaffler; sister – in - law Maxine Payne; brother – in -laws Kenneth Strack, Jim Strack and Frank Strack (Maxine); and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Joe Strack; her parents Henry and Carlyn Payne; daughter-in-law, Jackie Eggar Strack; brothers Kenneth and James Payne; sister, Judith Payne Shirley.

Suggested memorials are Alzheimer’s Disease Research, the Watonga Public Library or a charity of your choice.

Services: United Methodist Church, Monday, 10:00 Am, July 8, 2019, Watonga, OK

Officiating: Rev. Christy Germany

Private Family Burial

 Services entrusted to Turner Funeral Home, Geary, Oklahoma. Condolences may be sent to the family at turnerfuneralhomes@gmail.com, turnerfh.net, or you can find us on facebook.com (Turner Funeral Homes).

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