Ora Mae Patton

Ora Mae Patton, age 99, of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, went to be with the Lord on September 12, 2024. She passed peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family. 

Ora was born August 18, 1925 in Gum Springs Arkansas, the daughter of Perley Mae Maddox and John Henry Bradshaw. Growing up, she worked on her family farm. She attended Arkadelphia High School.

At the age of 17, she traveled to California with her father. She met her future husband, William “Woody” Patton while working on an assembly line at Bemis Co. paper bag factory. During World War II, Ora worked in the shipyards in Long Beach, California as a welder’s assistant. She and Woody wrote to each other for 25 months while he was stationed overseas. The very first night they were reunited after the war ended, he proposed to her. They wed on September 25, 1945 in Torrance, California. They were married for 41 years. In 1971, they moved the family to Arkadelphia, where Woody built Ora the house she lived in for the rest of her life.

Ora loved to spend time with her family and loved ones. She worked most of her life as a homemaker. It was her greatest joy in life to take care of her family and raise her children and grandchildren, they were her whole world. 

Ora will be remembered for her strength, resilience, joyful spirit, and sense of humor. She loved the Lord with all her heart and was always steadfast in her faith. She was a radiant light that showed unconditional love to all those around her. 

Remaining to cherish Ora’s memory are her children, Keith Patton (Kristie), Deborah McTee (Richard), and Pam Johnson (David); grandchildren, Kim Larsen (Greg), Kelley Greenfield (Shane), Krista Patton, Danelle Hebert, Sarah McTee, Brian Patton (Kim), and Hannah Johnson; 8 great grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. 

Preceding Ora in death are her parents, husband Woody Patton; son Brian Patton; granddaughter Kathy Patton; brothers, James Bradshaw and Matt Bradshaw; as well as her sisters, Rose Coston, Ruth Eastlund, and Betty Allen.

Funeral services are 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at Smith Family Funeral Home in Arkadelphia, Arkansas with Brother Jonathan Malone officiating. Visitation will be prior to the service, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Richland Cemetery in Arkadelphia. Pallbearers are David Coston, Dave Johnson, Greg Larsen, Keith Patton, Brian Patton, and Ryan Greenfield.

Arrangements by Smith Family Funeral Home-Arkadelphia/Ruggles-Wilcox Chapel, 517 Clay Street, Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71923, www.smithfamilycares.com.