Memorial services for Patricia Jane (Pat) Upchurch will be at 11:00am Monday, July 18, 2022 with Randal Richards officiating at Craddock Memorial Chapel.
Pat was born April 30, 1938 East of Ardmore to Henry Clayton and Sarah Jane (Butler) McNeely and has resided in the Ardmore area all of her life. She graduated from Dickson High School in 1956 & married Herbert Upchurch in 1960. They celebrated 60 years of marriage before he preceded her in death in September 2021.
Pat worked for the Carter County Health Department, the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Dr. John Adair, Pat’s Beautiful Creations, H&R Block and Mercy Memorial Hospital before retiring in 1999. She was the Carter County Registrar of Vital Statistics from 1961 to 1997. She served on the Community Nursing Service Board, the Carter County Medical Assistants Board, and the Ardmore Public Library Board. She was involved in anything her children did during school including being a Boy Scout leader & PTA member at Jefferson Elementary, a Band Booster Parent at Ardmore Junior High and Senior High, a PTA member at Franklin Elementary and an Ardmore High School Choir seamstress and chaperone.
One of her favorite accomplishments was designing, baking & decorating wedding cakes and catering for many of the weddings in the Ardmore area for over 15 years. She loved painting, especially with her grandchildren. Herb and Pat produced the Carter County Free Fair for 12 years, and she loved being involved with all aspects of the fair. She was an avid birdwatcher who loved to read, do crosswords puzzles and travel. She loved nature and anything that, as she would say, “God made just for me to enjoy.” She was very involved in church, teaching Sunday School, Children’s Church and Youth, but her greatest love was for her family and especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her favorite saying was “it’s ALWAYS a holiday when our family can be with us.”
She was called many names by family and friends including wife, Mom, Nanny, Grandma Pat, Carino Nanny, Aunt Pat and Mama Pat. If you called her any of these names, know that you are loved and extremely important to her.
She is survived by her son, Dr. Alan Upchurch & wife Robin of McKinney, TX, and daughter Paula Pfau & husband Doug of Ardmore OK. She was proud of her 6 grandchildren J.W. Cox of Allen, TX, Mary Beth Swofford & husband Jeff of Phoenix, AZ, Chase Upchurch of Allen, TX, Caroline Haeger and husband Brian of Dallas, TX, Dr. Sadie Hlavenka and husband Devin of Ardmore, OK and Drs. Savannah Caro and husband Mick of Newcastle, OK. She also loved 3 special chosen granddaughters, Nancy Lehman and husband Derek of OKC, OK, Allyson Ulucay and husband Kagan of Houston, TX, and Robin George and husband Daris of Ardmore, OK and special chosen great-grandchildren Ester Sofia and Lucy Carin Lehman, David Etka Ulucay, and Shiloh Clarity and Loyal Daris George. She is also survived by G. Herschel McNeely and wife Becky, Jim McNeely and wife Kim, Ty McNeely and wife Emily, Linda Lou Meade & husband Tony, Karl Pulliam and Alexis and Ashley Rutledge and Chad, Parker & Paige, special cousins Anita Rutledge, DeAnn Spradling and Randy Evers. She also had many special friends including Bunny Ragland, Elaine Holloway, Carol Pulliam, Beverly Gill, and Zoe Johnson.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, sister, many nieces and nephews, granddaughter Sarah Jane, great granddaughter Lily Claire, and her beloved husband Herb.
In lieu of flowers, she requests donations to The Family Shelter of Southern Oklahoma.
Online condolences can be made at www.craddockfuneralhome.com.
