Patty Sue Stapp, of Lindsay, OK, born April 07, 1940 passed away quietly on August 03, 2009 after a long battle with illness. She was able to spend her last days in care of hospice in the home of her youngest son, Greg Herndon, in Poteau, Ok.
Born in OKC, one of four children, to Minyard A. and Rudel Daisy Harris. She spent most of her childhood and teen years in Oklahoma City. Her father a carpenter and mother a homemaker. Although, for many years they owned a drive-in theatre. One in Ponca City, Ok and the other in Poteau, Ok where she also spent part of her childhood. However, she graduated in OKC, Ok from Capitol Hill High School.
She retired in the fall of 2007 as Deputy Clerk from the City of Lindsay after having been employed there for over 25 years. She had worked at many other companies over the years throughout her life in more cities than we can remember. Actually, she loved moving! Too many places to begin to write down. Looking back--wish we'd actually had her write them down along with alll the cities she'd lived in. She had a real knack for remembering them all---full addresses, places of employment and her children's schools. It was quite an impressive list. If memory serves, over 60 places, and she knew every one.
Mother was what one might call a "collector" of sorts. Friends & family always enjoyed a visit to "pat's house". ..because you never knew what new "treasure" you might find. Her "pretties" she called them. Her home, always an adventure to visit...complete with "holiday themed" rooms. She was so proud to show them off---(most days). And she was just as proud to show off---this being a few years back now---her and dad's collection of animals. They had at one point-anything from as simple as a rabbit to the opposite extreme of peacocks and emus, pigs, cattle, horses and goats...and a list a mile long of so many others. They had quite the collection....
And I guess, stemming back to her childhood upbringing---mom LOVED going to the movies and out to eat. El Chico's and a movie...and some shopping of course...and she was on cloud 9. She also loved traveling. She was never afraid to just get in the car & go. Which we did...often! She had probably driven, not to mention, lived in, states all over the country. (still wishin we'd had her write all that down). She eventually found a spot to stay---here in Lindsay, Ok...when she married C.R. (Ronnie) Stapp in 1974. 35 years she'd been in one spot.---quite a feat for mom. She and Ronnie were married & lived there together until his death in March of 2006.
Going back to 1958...after her high school graduation...mother married Glen Cordell of OKC, OK. They had two sons together, Jerry and Chris Cordell. Although they divorced, she and Glen remained close friends. And in his later marriage to Norma Nolen...with whom he had a son, Stephen...mother thought of him as her own. Glen has since passed and Norma suffering from complications of strokes is being cared for in Madill, Ok.
In 1964, mother married Charles Herndon of Longview, Tx. They had 3 children...Mark, Melonie and Gregory Herndon. Charles has since passed.
After they parted, she found her way to Lindsay marrying C.R. of the Alex/Lindsay area.
She and Ronnie (C.R.) had built quite a home for themselves. They (well, truth be told, mom....really) were always adding on and re-doing some part of the house. It always seemed to have grown each time you went to visit them. It was never a dull visit to "pat's house".
And you can bet that if you were to stay long enough or had ever worked with her...she would have...at some point...jumped out from behind something (when you were least expecting it) to scare the pieces out of you. That was her thing!
Ask anyone who worked with her or was just around her---and, of course, ANY family member---she thoroughly enjoyed it! Many a sign was hung on her door to prepare you for "what may lie ahead".
Boring is definitely not a term you could ever use to describe Pat...and her antics. She was always up to something! You could count on it. As a matter of fact, "completely rotten" was often used (lovingly, of course) to describe her.
Silly, precocious, rotten, "full of adjectives", never quiet (unless hiding to scare you).
Gan, or Gan Gan to her family and Granny Pat to many friends---however you knew her-you are sure not to forget her.
Lively---that was Pat...the way she would want to be remembered.
Pat was survived by her children Jerry Cordell and wife Machelle, grandsons Aaron and Steven and grand daughter Gracie...all of Foster, Ok. Chris Cordell and wife Lana, grandsons Cody and Colt, grand daughters Christina, Carolyn and Courtney, great grandson Codan and his mother Meghan....all of Lindsay. Mark Herndon and wife Penny, grandson Nick Williams and great grand son Rebel, and great grand daughters D'Kota Hamilton, Kendall and Ryleigh Williams, grand daughter Kendra Baker, and grandsons Kenyon and Kagon Herndon, all of Lindsay...Melonie Alario and husband Ryan, grandsons Jake McGuire, Michael and Luke Alario, grand daughters Mary Beth and Landry Alario and great grandson Kaleb...all of Lindsay. Greg Herndon and wife Becky and grandsons Alex and Zack all of Poteau, Ok., Stephen Cordell and wife Susan and grandchildren Blaze and Gracie Cordell all of Madill, Ok. Her sister Mary Lou Davis and husband Joe of Mustang, Ok., Sister-in-Law Jackie Harris of Powers, OR., and a host of nephews, nieces, great nephews and nieces, cousins and friends too many to name.
She was preceded in death by her spouse C.R. (Ronnie) Stapp, her parents Minyard A. and Rudel D. Harris, two brothers James Billy and Minyard Billy Harris.
Pat was a member of the Church of Christ her whole life. Her services will be held there on Saturday, August 08, 2009 at 1:00 pm...
Because she was in Poteau at the time of her passing---she will be carried to the Church of Christ at 1605 NW 4th St., Lindsay, Ok for her viewing prior to the service that afternoon. Pastor Jerry McCorkle to be officiating.
After her service, at her request, she will be laid to rest in the "Apostles Garden" at Resthaven Cemetery at 104th St. & Walker in OKC, OK so as to be close to her mother and daddy.
Services under the direction of Grace Manor Funeral Home; Poteau, Ok.
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