Diana Gail Patten

Diana Patten, 85 year old Woodward resident, went to be with Jesus Sunday, January 4, 2026 in Elk City, Oklahoma. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 9, 2026 at the Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church, Lincoln Campus. Burial will follow in the Elmwood Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Billings Funeral Home.
Diana Gail (Koury) Patten was born on October 1, 1940 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Ralph and Marion (Abraham) Koury. Diana lived in Pennsylvania until the age of six. At that time she moved to El Paso, Texas until her mom moved the family to the Oklahoma City area. Diana attended NW Classen High School in Oklahoma City. Diana said once that she was very proud that both her parents were born in Syria and came to America to have a better life.
She was united in marriage to Elwyn George Patten on June 5, 1957 in the Oklahoma City area. They made their first home in Oklahoma City for 3 years before moving to Woodward, Oklahoma in 1961. They also lived in Anchorage, Alaska and Cordova, Alaska for many years before moving back to Woodward. Diana worked at Tregos Westwear, she also worked for Sue Kennedy as a teacher's aide at the Montessory School, and as a dispatcher for Chitna Air Taxi in Cordova, Alaska.
Their years in Woodward were very happy and fulfilling. Elwyn worked with his father, Riley Patten, as a welder for many years.
Diana and Elwyn went on two Alaska vacations in 1967 and 1969. That's when Elwyn decided that someday he would live in Alaska, mostly for hunting big game and fishing. The move to Alaska occurred in June 1975. They originally lived for a short time in Valdez, Alaska but actually bought a home in Anchorage, Alaska living there a year. That was their daughter Shelly's senior year of high school.
Elwyn and Diana made another big change in their lives by deciding to move most of their belongings back to Woodward in order for their son Bruce to finish his high school years in Woodward. Anchorage did NOT offer football at school and Bruce played football, baseball and ran track. At the same time they moved back home, they also decided to purchase a commercial fishing boat and permits for salmon and herring. That decision began a 25 year long dual living arrangement. They would spend each spring and summer in Cordova, Alaska and the fall and winter in Woodward, Oklahoma. It was the very best living arrangement that they could come up with to make sure their family of 4 were all happy and content.
Elwyn and Diana loved going gambling and they had really close friends that they liked to go with. Tony and Margie Pickle were high school friends who remained close to the family their whole lives. Elwyn later worked for Dale Roberts in the oilfield where Dale and his wife Betty became lifelong friends. She also had a very dear friend in Glenna Hollis that she met early in life when Glenna's husband met Elwyn in the oilfield. Glenna was actually a vital part of Diana's final journey to heaven. None of Diana's immediate family members were able to be with her at that crucial time of her life. Glenna was the loved one that held her hand and sang to her as she crossed that final threshold into Jesus' loving arms. She enjoyed living in Alaska going fishing on their commercial fishing boat for salmon and herring. They owned 3 fishing boats: The Diana, The Shelly Renae and The Amber Renae. She loved spending time with all her family. The vacations they took when their kids were small always included a body of water to fish in.
Diana is survived by her husband of 68 years, Elwyn Patten of the home; one son Bruce Patten and wife Saundra; one daughter Shelly (Patten) Ramey and husband Bruce; five grandchildren: Koury Ramey, Rocky Patten, Amber Bates, Kendra Martin, and Christi Patten; nine great-grandchildren: Evangeline Ramey, Dartagnan Ramey, Tripp Bates, Emy Bates, Leah Bates, Dean Martin, Elise Martin, Brody Patten and wife Cyndi, and Bo Patten; two brothers: Wayne Unsell and wife Sarah, David Unsell and wife Carol; sister-in-law, Ellen Koury; other relatives and many friends.
Diana was preceded in death by both parents, her older brother Al Koury, older sister Jeanne Harris, younger sister Donna Unsell, and her in-laws, Riley and Geneva Patten.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Cancer Research Center for children or the US Armed Forces with the funeral home accepting the donations.