Patsy Ann (Griffith) McMahan was born March 17, 1939 in Oklahoma City to William Richard, W.R., “Preach” Griffith and Juanita (Chastain) Griffith. She went to be with her Lord and Savior on January 8, 2025, at her home in Newcastle at the age of 85.
Pat grew up in Newcastle and attended Newcastle Schools where she achieved perfect attendance all 12 years. While in school she was involved in 4H and played basketball for the Lady Racers and her favorite coach, Otho “Sweetpea” Curtis. She graduated from Newcastle High School Class of 1956. After graduation Pat attended business school for two years and then began working for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in the Treasury Department until their first daughter was born.
When Pat was in 8th grade she asked Orvis McMahan to a picnic and they became a couple. They were married June 20, 1958, at the Newcastle First Baptist Church. In 1962, Orvis’s job moved them to Duncan for six months and then to Holdenville. In 1965 the family moved to Anadarko where they made their home until 1982.
While in Anadarko Pat was actively involved with her daughters and their activities. She was band parent president, and a Camp Fire leader seeing several of the girls through to getting their Wo He Lo medallion. She also loved attending Warrior football and basketball games. Pat was a member of the Delphian Club and the First Baptist Church where she was in charge of the Keenagers, funeral dinners and taught vacation bible school.
In 1982, after the death of her father, Pat and Orvis, along with Kathy, moved to Newcastle to take over the farming operation. She quickly became involved at the Newcastle First Baptist Church where she sang in the choir, was a member of the hand bell choir, planned and served funeral dinners and hospitality events, and worked with Jolly Elders planning monthly meetings and trips.
She was a Red Hatter and for many years was in charge of the Newcastle Relay for Life. She was a cancer survivor and found great satisfaction working with this event. Pat was named the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 2020 and was selected as Grand Marshal for the Homecoming Parade in 2015. Over the past several months she enjoyed eating and visiting with friends at the Newcastle Senior Citizens Center.
Pat had the heart of a servant serving her Lord, her family and others. She loved to cook and was always feeding someone. She had a gift for hospitality and a love for people.
She was preceded in death by: Her parents: Preach and Juanita Griffith; grandparents Grant and Gracie Griffith, and Ed and Leola Chastain; brother and sisters-in-law, David and Patricia McMahan, Martyne Noland, and Jim McMahan.
She is survived by: Husband of 66 1/2 years Orvis; three daughters, Gale Wilson and husband Tim of Goldsby, Elizabeth Melton and husband Dr. Jim Melton of Oklahoma City, Kathy Black and husband Corey of Newcastle; seven grandchildren, Taylor Thurmond and husband Nick of Dallas, Texas, Dr. Kale Melton and wife Jenny of Tuttle, McKenzie Melton and fiancé Karl Francel of Oklahoma City, Morgan Fene and husband Dr. Evan Fene of Denver, Colorado, Collin Black and wife Bayleygh of Newcastle, Abigail Lyman and husband CWO2 Richard Lyman V of Twentynine Palms, California, and Chloe Black of Newcastle; eight great-grandchildren, Oliver and Eleanor Thurmond, Sophie Hierl, Colter Black, Veda Lyman, Beckett, Shepherd and Sullivan Fene, and Charlotte Ann Black, who will be arriving January 23; brother-In-law Herbert Noland; and sisters-in-law, Sue McMahan and Jo McMahan.
Memorials may be made to Living The Vision, Newcastle First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 299, Newcastle, OK 73065. Visitation was from 2-5 p.m. Sunday January 12, 2025, at Wilson-Little Funeral Home in Newcastle.
Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Monday, January 13, 2025, at First Baptist Church in Newcastle. Burial was at Newcastle Memorial Gardens.
