Gladys Patton

Gladys Aline (Prewett) Patton, of Bethany, Oklahoma went home to be with her Lord Jesus on June 2, 2012. Gladys was born October 6, 1925, in Roff, Oklahoma, to Marion Wesley and Edna Elizabeth Prewett. She married the love of her life, Hershel Wayne “Pat” Patton on April 6, 1940. While he served with the Marines during WWII, she was one of the thousands of women manning the home front, raising their family and working the production line in a California defense factory. When Pat came home, they set up house in the small town of Gene Autry in southern Oklahoma where Pat briefly worked on a ranch. From there they moved throughout Oklahoma working different jobs until Pat found the “oil patch.” In 1959, they moved to Oklahoma City where they started Star-Jet Services, an oilfield service company. Throughout 45 years of marriage, they loved and laughed together through both the easy and hard times. When Pat passed away in 1985, she met even that unwanted life change with the grace and charm that were her signature. Her best friends gave her the appropriate nickname, “Happy,” which truly summed up the legacy she modeled for her family. Gladys is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Patty and Jack Epley of Yukon, Oklahoma, and her son and daughter-in-law, John and Kathy Patton of Bethany, Oklahoma; her six grandchildren and their spouses, Gina and Steve Murdock, Susan and Jim Springwater, Tiffany and Chris Gresham, Heather and Scott Parker, Amanda and Polo Conway, and Johnny and Alicia Patton; and 19 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson. Visitation will be held at Bill Merritt Funeral Home on Tuesday, June 5th and Wednesday, June 6th from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Services will be held at Bill Merritt Funeral Home, 6201 NW 39th St. in Bethany, on Thursday, June 7th at 2:00 p.m. with a graveside service to follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, 8701 NW Expressway.