Patricia A. O'Day

was born to James R. Jones and Gladys M. Jones on May 25, 1945, in Warrenton, Missouri. She gained her heavenly wings on Saturday, November 6, 2021.

On March 19, 1961, she was united in marriage to the love of her life William (Bill/Poppy) R. O’Day. They happily traveled the world, spoiling their grandchildren, and serving the Wichita community during their 43 years of marriage. To this union three children were blessed to call them mom and dad.

As a parent, Patricia was involved in the Boys Scouts as a Den Mother and in Girl Scouts as a Troop Leader. From field trips to baking treats for school bake sales, she was actively involved in the rearing of her children. From 1968-1974 she was a member of the Kansas Chapter of Young Mothers and became the first African American Vice President for the State of Kansas.

In May of 1968, Patricia along with her husband, son, mother and seven siblings were all baptized at Calvary Baptist Church, in Wichita, Kansas. Under the leadership of the late Reverend W. G. Williams, she served as an Assistant Chairperson on the Better Health Department. Providing hypertension screenings, counseling on diabetes, sodium restrictions, and behavior modification. She also served as an Assistant Chairperson for the Youth Department teaching Baptist Training Union (BTU) for over 10 years. Where she helped many young people get familiar with their bible and the word of God. Desiring to fully equip the teens she served and received special permission from Rev. Williams to address other teenage issues; dating, drug use, self-esteem, positive thinking, teenage pregnancy and sex education.

Patricia’s pursuit of higher education started in 1974 when she graduated from Bryan Institute as a Registered Medical Assistant. Followed by studies as a Licensed Practical Nurse at Kansas Newman College and then Wichita State University where she earned a Bachelor of General Studies with an emphasis in Psychology, Women Studies, and Biology. She concluded with a Certified License in Addiction Counseling and Grief Therapy.

For 30 years she worked in the health care field working at Wesley Medical Center and Osteopathic Clinic, providing patient care in Pediatrics, Intensive Care, Internal Medicine and General Practice. During her medical career she helped set up and start the Kansas State Association of Registered Medical Assistants (RMA). She served as the Treasurer for three years, Vice President for three years and as State President for four years. She was an active member of the RMA Executive Board as a State Counselor and served as a Board Member at large. In 1983 she was awarded RMA of the year, for outstanding clinic and patient care in a clinical setting.

When Patricia started to burn out from nursing but still desired to work in the field of helping others she went back to college and obtained a Licensed Counseling Degree. For over 20 years she worked in the fields of Substance Abuse, Anger Management, and Grief Therapy.

In 1987, when their oldest son Danny was murdered the O’Day’s, joined a support group called Parents of Murdered Children. While working through their grief and learning how to navigate the legal system to bring a criminal to justice they started helping other families and ministering through outreach. During that time Patricia served on the YWCA- Women’s Crisis Center/Safe House Advisory Council, and Parents of Murdered Children as Vice President and board member for many years.

Patricia used the pain from her son’s death as fuel to create an indignant rage at the criminal justice system and how domestic violence was being handled in the state of Kansas. She joined a citizens Community Task Force and was instrumental in the introduction and proposal of The Domestic Violence Mandatory Arrest Law for the city of Wichita.

She was an appointed member of the Wichita Commission on the Status of Women by former Mayor Bob Knight. And served as an appointed member on the Kansas Sentencing Commission under former Governor Bill Graves of the State of Kansas. She also served on the Kansas Clinicians Networks Steering Committee, which was responsible for providing health care services to the medically disadvantaged. Patricia, wanted to help protect women and children who were being abused and on January 17, 1988, Patricia was the first recipient in Wichita, Kansas to receive the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award for Courage.

Patricia continued her training and education in counseling through various workshops and trainings over the years. She knew she wanted to do more to help the Wichita community and God answered her prayers. Working alongside her younger sister Peggy Jones-Foxx and husband Bill they offered Counseling and Outreach Services initially at St. Mark United Methodist Church and later at Dellrose Methodist Church.

In 2005 when her beloved husband Bill passed away, Patricia used her work as a counselor to stay involved helping others as she worked through her grief. At that time, she was working at the Hunter Health Clinic, and she became actively involved in issues affecting Native Americans. She also learned more about her Cherokee heritage and participated in Pow Wows and ceremonial functions at the Wichita Indian Center. She was renamed by her Native family as “She Who Sees.” Accepting her spiritual gifts as one who receives visions and dream interpreter, she regrounded herself in her faith.

In 2011, Patricia and her daughter Lavonda realized they were still having grief issues due to the death of Bill. He had passed away just 7 days shy of their 44th Anniversary that coincided with the annual spring break time of the local USD 259 school system. They decided instead of wallowing in their grief during that time they would instead offer a Spring Break Youth Empowerment Camp. They enlisted co-workers, friends and family members to assist with the camp. Later, other youth pastors and volunteers were added to the program. For eight years they offered the weeklong camp as a service to parents providing meals, faith-based interactive trainings on self-esteem, positive thinking, and vision boards. Guest speakers were brought in to introduce career options, creative problem-solving games and interactive workbooks were all a part of an amazing experience offered to the youth.

In 2016, while preparing for the annual Spring Break program, Patricia suffered a debilitating stroke. She was rushed by ambulance to the hospital where she received a shot that was supposed to reduce long lasting effects from the stroke. Unfortunately, she was part of the 1% of individuals who are allergic to the shot, and it created bleeding in her brain. Both of her main Carotid Arteries were blocked at 90%, she was paralyzed on the right side of her body, lost her ability to speak and had to have a feeding tube surgically inserted.

The medical staff informed the O’Day family that Patricia would never be the woman they formerly knew. They tried to explain how here condition was not going to get better and that she would need 24-hour care for the rest of her short life. They were estimating she would have a month to three months to live. However, the O’Day family knew that they served a God who turns what may seem as impossible into living, walking, breathing, miracles!

Two months after an extended stay at Regent Park Rehabilitation Center, Patricia “Meme” Ann O’Day, walked out of that premature death sentence by the grace of God. While she never fully recovered her ability to speak more than a few words at a time, her facial expressions clearly spoke louder than words. While the before stroke Patricia was verbally articulate, to understand the after-stroke Patricia, you had to listen with your heart before hearing with your ears.

Patricia remained in her home being lovingly cared for primarily by her daughter Lavonda and host of other family, friends, volunteers and paid staff. While the stroke stole her ability to venture out independently, it did not rob her of her love to travel, shop, and visit family and friends.

While it took more assistance than previously, she still flew, traveled by car to family reunions and enjoyed going to the movies, concerts and church. Her life may not have been what she had imagined it would be, her last 6 years on earth, but it was definitely filled with quality experiences, diversified companionship, and unconditional love.

Patricia was a woman of faith, she was courageous, and a champion of the underserved, disenfranchised, and downtrodden. She was a devoted Christian who loved God, her family, and her community. She was a woman of many accomplishments and worthwhile endeavors with a no-nonsense demeanor. If you approached her you had better come correct or not at all!

Patricia “Meme” Ann O’Day was proceeded in death by her parents James and Gladys Jones, her husband William “Poppy” O’Day, her son Danny O’Day, her brother James Jones Jr. and sister Diane Jones Miles.

Patricia leaves to cherish her memory: her daughter Lavonda O’Day, son Daniel Scott O’Day. Honorary children: Ivan Cotman Jr., James Henley, Randal Strong-Wallace, Nyesha Jones Wahl, Mike and Angela Mulligan. Grandchildren: Darrick O’Day, Peggy Henley, Renee O’Day, Raymond O’Day, and Great Granddaughter, Amaya O’Day. Honorary Grandchildren Jami-Jackson Howell, Arionna Moore, Ardynn Andrews, Ayden Brown, Ethan Mulligan, Kaley Mulligan, Matthew Mulligan, and Joshua Mulligan. Brothers and sisters: Carolyn Connor, Wilson and Rita Jones, Wendell and Sharon Jones, Larry Jones, Donnie and Debra Jones, Marsha Talton, Peggy and Marvin Foxx, Patsy Jones, Joseph and Rose Onijala, Cindy Jones, and Bobby Miles. Honorary Siblings, Randy and Rose Carlson, Newman and Tami Washington, Ovetta Barbour Owens, and Donna Chandler. She will be missed by her nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of other relatives and friends.

The family has requested the service to be live streamed from Resthaven Mortuary & Resthaven Gardens of Memory Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ResthavenMortuary/