Shirley Ann (Oakley) Payton, age 80, of Miami, OK, passed quietly in the comfort of own her home last Thursday, March 1, 2018. Shirley was born in 1937 to George and Audrey Oakley of Afton, Oklahoma.
She is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Bobby Payton, their four daughters, Denise Payton and her husband Roy of Miami, OK, Kimberly Karhoff and her husband David of Miami, OK, Lorie Phillips and her husband Bob of Joplin, MO, Teri Johnson and her husband Chris of Arlington, TN, 8 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren.
Shirley grew up near Horse Creek on Grand Lake and attended nearby Iron Post School. She was the youngest of 10 children. She is preceded in death by her mother and father, her six brothers: Roy, Ray, Carl, Ralph, Bud, Ted, her three sisters: Ruby Austin, Ruth Geouge, and Dorothy Mays, and her granddaughter Stephanie Phillips Fajardo.
Shirley met the love of her life, Bobby Dean Payton, through her brothers. She was the pesky little sister that taunted and followed them around wherever they would go. When Bobby enlisted in the Army and was shipped off to the Korean War in 1951, Shirley was the only one that wrote him and a life long romance was kindled. The two were married in 1953. Shirley spent over 23 years as dedicated Army wife, moving over 12 times throughout Europe, Asia and the US, keeping a home and raising 4 daughters. After Bobby retired from the Army in 1973, they returned to their roots in Afton, OK, where Bobby & Shirley began a second career farming and custom hay baling. They finally retired one last time and settled in Miami, OK, until the day of her passing.
Visitation services will be held at the Paul Thomas Funeral Home in Miami, Oklahoma on Monday, March 5th from 6-8 PM. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, March 6th at 2pm. Graveside service will be at G.A.R. Cemetery. A Celebration of Life reception will follow afterwards at the Paul Thomas Family Center.
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