Patsy Ayres

On Friday, May 27 th , 2022, Patsy Allyne Dunn Ayres, better known as “Memaw” graduated to her next chapter of eternal life with her Lord and Savior and is back in the arms of the love of her life for 64 years, Bill Ayres. She was surrounded by family and friends in her home in Guymon, Oklahoma and is no longer suffering with renal and heart failure. We rejoice that she is now whole again.

Patsy was born on September 24, 1932 in Turkey, Texas to “Bill” Vivian Elec Dunn and Flora Victoria Weatherly Dunn. The family originally lived in dugouts in Hall County where they farmed and eventually built the community of Weatherly and school. Farming was tough during the dust bowl days and Patsy’s parents took the opportunity to move and start a few new businesses in Dumas, Texas, Dumas Butane operated by her dad and a café operated by her mom.

Patsy was a devout Christian. In 1948, at the age of 16 she gave her life to Christ at the First Baptist Church in Dumas. She was the purest example of God's enduring love...she truly was blessed with the fruits of the spirit...so gentle, loving and kind, always serving the Lord and others with true joy in her heart. A shining example of all of God’s goodness and grace.

She graduated from Dumas High School in 1951 and attended Wayland Baptist College in Plainview, Texas where she studied business administration. While attending college she was introduced by a friend through mail to the love of her life, Billy L. Ayres. They corresponded for several years, writing love letters back and forth without ever having met in person until Bill got out of the Navy and started college at OSU and showed up in Dumas one day to ask Patsy to marry him. Patsy’s favorite color was navy blue…perhaps that is why she couldn’t resist this Navy man dressed in his navy blues…or maybe that is why her favorite color is navy blue.

Patsy and Bill were married at the First Baptist Church in Dumas, Texas on March 31 st , 1956 and returned to OSU for Bill to finish college. After graduation they moved to Ponca City for a short while where Patsy worked in the city utilities billing office and Bill taught P.E. at the High School. In 1959, they moved to Albuquerque until Patsy’s parents persuaded them to move to Colorado Springs in 1962 to help run a motel they bought. Patsy helped run the motel for many years. She worked for the State of Colorado for 22 years; 4 yrs at South Elementary School, 7 yrs at Dept of Revenue and 11yrs at the Driver’s License Bureau where she retired in 1991.

Patsy and Bill had three children born to them, Greg, who died at birth in 1960, Rodney Dean born in 1963 and Vicki Nell born in 1966 and later in 1983, arose to a need and brought in Loraine Strobel Moffett as a member of their family. In recent years, they welcomed Peter Adup, one of the Lost Boys from South Africa to be a part of this loving family.

Throughout their marriage, Patsy and Bill enjoyed spending time with family and watching their kids and grandkids at sporting events, square dancing, family fishing & camping trips, genealogy, traveling across the country, attending family reunions and absorbing all the history, listening to country music and two- stepping across the family room. Whether it was Vicki’s volleyball games, Rod’s football games, quarter midget racing, or the grandkids rodeos and swim meets, Patsy was always there cheering them on the loudest. Patsy’s favorite memories were always around serving others and spending time with family and friends. The family got started in quarter midget racing in the early 70’s where Patsy helped run the concession stand and served on the committee to put on the events.

Patsy loved tole painting, quilting, needlework and all arts and crafts…she passed this passion down to her daughter Vicki. She loved canning, especially peaches and making peach jam, which went exceptionally well with her homemade biscuits and gravy she shared with love every Saturday morning with family and friends. Patsy enjoyed growing flowers, especially her beloved roses and peonies. She loved spending time with their precious toy poodle, Chance and was heart broke when it was his time to pass into eternity. He brought them so much joy!

When Patsy retired in 1991, Bill and Patsy started traveling more and focused on their new greatest love and passion, spending time with new grandson, Loper McCune, in Oklahoma, taking him fishing, camping and traveling to family reunions. In 2004, Bill and Patsy moved from Widefield to Goodwell, Oklahoma to be closer to their grandson and enjoyed attending Loper’s rodeos, football and basketball games. Later, after daughter Vicki remarried, they instantly had two more grandchildren, Haylie and Blayne to love and enjoyed watching them excel in rodeo, swimming and their activities. In 2017 they were over the moon with the birth of great granddaughter Tinley Lynn McCune. Patsy and Bill celebrated 64 years of marriage before Bill passed in 2020.

While in Colorado, Patsy and Bill were active members of the Good Shepard United Methodist Church for 40 years. Patsy served as UMW President on numerous occasions. After moving to Oklahoma, Patsy and Bill joined the Victory Memorial United Methodist Church in Guymon where Patsy enjoyed being an active part of the UMW and volunteering at the Clothing Ministry every week when she could, right up to a few weeks before her passing. Her and Bill enjoyed being a part of the Hilltoppers in Goodwell and Primetimers at the Church.

Patsy is survived by her son, Rodney Ayres of Goodwell, Oklahoma; daughter, Vicki Ayres Portman and husband Jimbo Portman of Hooker, Oklahoma; Loraine Moffett and husband Bob of Lake Mary, Florida; Peter Adup of Guymon, Oklahoma; five grandchildren, Loper McCune and wife Kim Kelly of Goodwell, Oklahoma; Haylie Eyer of Amarillo, Texas; Blayne Portman of Amarillo, Texas; John Moffett of Westlake, Florida, Austin Anderson and husband Ryan of Lake Mary, Florida ; three great grandchildren, Tinley Lynn McCune, Carter Moffett and soon to be baby boy Anderson; sister in law, Oretha Lewis of Elkhart, Kansas; sister in law, Lucille Coleman and husband Jerry of Madill, Oklahoma; three nephews, Fred Dunn of Beatrice, NE, Kenny Dunn and wife Cindy of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Kerry West and Dianna of Rock Springs, Wyoming; niece, Carol Dunn of Powell, Wyoming, as well as many great nieces & nephews, cousins, friends and extra special caregivers that became family; Linda McCurdy, Lilliana Ponce, Teresa Fick, Megan Parkhurst and Chelly Garcia.

She was proceeded in death by her mother, Flora Victoria Weatherly Dunn; father, “Bill” Vivian Elic Dunn; son, Greg Ayres; brother, Billy Joe Dunn; sister-in-law, Harriet Dunn West; sister in law, Louise Freeman; brother in law, Overton Ayres and wife Frances; brother in law, Dwayne Lewis; mother and father in law, William Holland Ayres and Nellie Marie Bynum Ayres; nephew, Roger Dunn.

Service Details.

Visitation for Patsy will be held on Tuesday May 31, 2022, at Henson Novak Funeral Home from 1:00 P.M till 6 P.M with the family in attendance from 4:00 P.M to 6:00 P.M

Funeral Services for Patsy will be held at 10:30 A.M on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, at Victory Memorial United Methodist Church with Rev. David Player presiding.

Interment will be held at 2:00 P.M on Wednesday June 1, 2022 at Dumas City Cemetery 800 Block of South Twitchell, Dumas, Texas with Rev. David Player residing over both.

A virtual service link will be available after the service for those wishing to watch online.

Memorials can be made through Henson-Novak Funeral Home to the Victory Memorial United Methodist Church (VMUMC) UMW to help women and children.

Friends and Family may sign the online guest book or leave an online condolence.

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