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© Billings Funeral Home
Reprinted with permission
Submitted by: Ann Weber
Patricia Mae Lee was born in May, Ok on November 29, 1928 to Mary Ellen (Blockolski) and Lillard Raymond Fanning.
She and her husband Carmine Arrigenna were the proud parents of two children, Mary Jo and Bill. She tended to the house and the children while Carmine worked at General Foods. She worked for a short time at Electronics. She loved to spend time creating oil paintings and playing the piano while singing.. Carmine passed away in 1968 from a heart attack. She struggled to live in the house with the memories so she moved back to May, Ok.
In 1970, she married Dalford Lee. He brought two children to their marriage, Larry and Gary. On their first date, Dalford instructed Pat on what to wear, and surprised her with an airplane ride which he piloted, followed by attending a square dance. She was a little skeptical and nervous, but they had a great time together until his passing in 2018.
She went back to school to get her LPN degree. Upon completing her degree she worked at Newman Memorial in Shattuck, Ok. Then went to work for the hospital in Buffalo, Ok. Finally found her niche working at Western State Hospital. She left her position at Western State Hospital to further her nursing education by going back to school to get her RN degree.
She was very artistic. She made Fathers Christmas and angels of all shapes and sizes. She loved to oil paint and do ceramics. She transitioned to china painting and continued while at Golden Oaks in Enid for many years. Her grandchildren have many of her china paintings. She and Dalford were pet lovers and had several memorable pets over the years, including Bo, Mandy, Ling at Woodward and Sam at Golden Oaks. They also had numerous cats and kittens over the years including the famous attack cat, Mac. Pat converted to catholicism after marrying Carmine and moving to New York. She and Dalford attended Grace Mennonite Church in Enid, Oklahoma. In later years, they attended the church services at Golden Oaks. Pat had a group of friends at Golden Oaks that Dalford named the Gossiping Grannies of Golden Oaks. They always included him in their chats. Later they were joined by a couple other men. The group had a great time chatting and there was plenty of laughter at the table.
Pat loved her husband and her family. She always looked forward to the family visits. When Bill visited all the way from New York, Dalford and Pat would make sure that all their children would get together. She was always interested in his grandchildren and great-grandchildrens lives. She would keep up on their accomplishments and what was going on in their lives. She always would listen and give great advice to her grandchildren when they would ask.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Carmine; second husband, Dalford Lee; mother, Mary Ellen Fanning; father, Lil Fanning; son, Bill Arrigena; son-in-law, Tad Dooley and nephew, Max Fanning.
She is survived by her daughter Mary Jo Dooley of Galva, KS; sons, Larry and wife Susan of Derby, Kansas; Gary and wife, Janiece of Lawton, OK; and brother Jerry Fanning of Fort Supply, OK. She is also survived by grandchildren Michele Peres of Las Vegas NV; Josh Peres of Galva, KS; Steven Arrigenna and wife Kini of Spain: Kristin Carmen and husband Anthony of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware; Kerry Gates and husband Tony of Greigsville, New York; Janis Arrigenna of Loveland, Colorado; Crystal Whisman and husband Justin of Ft. Wayne, In; Jeremy Lee and wife Melinda of McLoud, OK; Justin Lee of Bluffton, SC; Jeff Barron and wife Mandy of Woodward, OK; Christy Smith of Choctaw, OK; Stephanie Deen and husband, Jarrett of El Dorado, KS; 30 great-grandchildren, and 2 nephews.
The Funeral will be Saturday, August 22, 2020 at 2:00PM in the BillingsFuneral Home Chapel 1621 Downs Avenue Woodward, OK 73801
The Interment will be Saturday, August 22, 2020 at
Elmwood Cemetery
2755 Downs Ave.
Woodward, OK 73801