Pat "Gakkie" Ballard

Memorial services for Patricia Ann Ballard will be held on Friday, January 25th, 2019 at 2:00 PM at the Reed-Culver Chapel with Pastor Darell Christopher officiating and Debbie Fairchild Shouse reading the obituary. She will be laid to rest at Ross Cemetery in Park Hill, OK. Online condolences for her family may be left at www.reedculver.com.

Honorary Pallbearers for Patricia include Gary Crafton, Jacob Deckard, Colton Fairchild, Josh Humphrey, William Battenfield, Sejin Battenfield, Justin Battenfield, Cody Fairchild, Randy Fairchild, Jim Rose, John Deckard, and James Johnson.

Patricia Ann Ballard, or “Gakkie” as her family knew and loved her, was born on Tuesday, June 18th, 1946 in Wagoner, OK, the daughter of Herschell Lee Whittenberg and Lora Laureen Tedder- Whittenberg. She grew up in a household with two brothers and one sister, Fletcher, David and Susan. She attended school and then married Eddie Rose. Pat was the proud mother of two sons and one daughter, Bobby, Steven, and Teresa. She worked as a Hotel Manager in the hospitality industry. When she wasn’t at work, she could be found at home. She had an eye for decorating and was a really good cook in the kitchen. She was the first to make sure that people with no family in the area had a hot meal. Pat possessed a green thumb and could grow just about anything. She loved to go shopping; it was her field of expertise! During the holiday, she went all out to make it an occasion to remember. Her door was always open and her heart was always ready to help anyone that came to her. Pat gave sound advice, and listened to people, offering any help she could. A Christian by faith, Pat was a member of the First Christian Church of Tahlequah. The Lord called this good and faithful servant home from her labors on Saturday, January 19th, 2019 in Muskogee, OK. She was 72 years old and will be truly missed by all those whose lives she touched.

She is preceded in death by her mother, father, husband Eddie Rose, brother David Whittenberg, sister Susan Whittenberg Jackson, grandchildren Angela "Bolo" Bobo and Robin Fairchild, two great grandchildren, Gabriel Byars and Isiah Fairchild Alexander and her dear friend Betty Murray.

Pat’s memory is cherished by her children, Bobby Fairchild and wife Melinda of Manchester, KY, Steven Lee Fairchild and wife Diane of Briggs, OK, and Teresa Fairchild-Sloan and husband Lloyd of Muskogee, OK. She leaves one brother, Fletcher Whittenberg and wife Peggy of Travelers Rest, SC. Gakkie lives on in the grandchildren she adored, Kristin Battenfield, Justin Battenfield, Tonya Fairchild, Randy Fairchild, Cody Fairchild, Lacee Fairchild Daniels and husband Hunter, Ashley Latty and husband Marty, Shayna Lewis and husband Morgan, Colton Fairchild, Kaylee Fairchild Horsechief and husband Skylar, Sean Sloan, and Krystal Lockridge. She also leaves her adorable great grandchildren, Jacob, Macie, Heaven, Nicole, Tara, Josh, Sierra, Savannah, Tori William, Sejin, Janea, Caressa, Renley, Riggin, Clinton, Kyle, Caleb, Harper, Mataya, Savannah, Zaedon, Jayce, Gabriel, Cameron, Kaylee, Makayla, Cameron, and Isaac, as well as and her nieces and nephews, Fletcher Dion, Anthony Whittenberg, Sherry Whittenberg Smith, David Wayne Whittenberg, Jeremy Jackson, and Kelly Jackson Brown, and her special friends, Anita Schulz and husband Lawrence, Gail Petterson, Lloyd Sloan, Mike Cason, Charles and Cheryl, many cousins, a host of friends and loved ones.