Patricia (Pat) Ann McKee (Pate) passed away peacefully from this earth to eternal life on Sunday, May 6, 2007 at the age of 76. Pat was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma on June 23, 1930 and lived there until 1948. She moved to Oklahoma City with her high school sweetheart and husband, Bruce Madden. Of that union was born two children. In 1967, Pat remarried a wonderful man named Riley McKee and they moved to Wichita, Kansas where she has lived for the last forty years. Pat was very active in various organizations including Phi Beta Psi sorority and Twentieth Century Club, serving in many leadership roles for both groups. She was a treasured volunteer for 17 years at the Via Christi-St. Francis Hospital Gift Shop. Pat will be remembered as a loving and devoted daughter, wife, sister, mom and mimi to her grandchildren. Pat loved spending time with friends playing bridge, attending Music Theater and Singing Quakers, doing crafts, solving crossword puzzles and shopping. Nothing gave her more joy than seeing or holding a baby. Pat was loved by all who knew her and had many wonderful friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Riley McKee; her mother and father, Alice and Carl Pate; and her sister and brother-in-law, Wanda and Bill Ruark. Her survivors include her daughters, Pam Henthorn and husband Barry, Miki Farris and husband Jim; grandchildren, Abbey Payne, Ally Payne, Jacquelyn Farris and Josh Farris, all from Oklahoma City; niece, Linda Carns and family from Lawton; and nephew and wife, Mike and Mary Ruark and family from Seattle. Thanks to Dr. Brian Geister and his nurse, Jamie, for their loving care. Pat loved Dr. Geister like a son. Thanks also to Dr. Katherine Little and the staff at Integris Baptist 7 West for their care. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to Infant Crisis Services, 1933 N.W. 39th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73118 or The American Cancer Society. Visitation will be held at Smith and Kernke Funeral home at 14624 May Ave., Wednesday, May 9th from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. Services will be held at Church of the Servant in the Chapel of the Cross, Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 11:00 am with interment at Memorial Park Cemetery. SMITH & KERNKE 14624 N. MAY AVE
Published in The Oklahoman on 5/8/2007.