Lois Marie Payne

Notes:

Ken Harvey writes that she studied to be an attorney "but married one instead." She worked as a secretary in Oklahoma City.

Attended Saint Elizabeth Academy, an Orphanage and Boarding School for Native American Girls in Purcell, Oklahoma. She graduated from Duncan High School, however, in 1938. She told Lynell Cordell she had only one skirt and two sweaters to wear throughout her entire senior year.

The Duncan Banner - Monday, April 25, 1949 Marlow News - Pg. 5 Miss Lois Marie Payne of Oklahoma City was a guest of Mr. & Mrs. Marshall Gregston Sunday. (Courtesy of Lynell Cordell)

Obituary
Chickasaw Times, January 2014, Page 21

Lois (Marie) Payne Hanna

Lois (Marie) Payne Hanna died November 20, 2013 at the Lakes Nursing Facility in Oklahoma City, after a long struggles with Alzheimer's disease and a short battle with congestive heart failure.

She was born February 10, 1920 to Thomas Hardwick Payne and Bessie Bird Payne at Duncan, Okla. Though her early formative years were spent at St. Elizabeth's School in Purcell, Okla.; and education provided to her from the altruism of the Chickasaw tribe, she graduated from Duncan High School in 1938. Some years later she moved to Oklahoma City where she became a lifelong resident. After the War, she enrolled in the Oklahoma City School of Law (currently OCU) where she met her future husband, James Cullen Hanna. As one relative put it, "she studied to be an attorney, but married one instead." In the early 1960's she secured employment with the architecture firm of Coston, Frankfurt, Short (now Frankfurt Short Brusa) and rose from a secretarial position to retire in the 1990's as a member of the firm's board of directors. It was from this career position that Mrs. Hanna became a long lasting member of Executive Women Incorporated (EWI). Lois served in many capacities during her lengthy membership in EWI including that of president. Association with this organization provided her with the opportunity to travel and cement lifelong friendships. In later life she fondly recalled the places and people she had the pleasure to know.

While her sharp and penetrating mind permitted her to explore a keen interest in myriad of subjects, her main focus was on just a few. Aside from her whole family,---her offspring, her siblings, her sibling's offspring, in-laws and everything in-between---which she cherished above all else, her great passions in life were music, literature, history, Sooner football and all things Oklahoman.

Her enthusiasm for music and above all, opera brought her great happiness. She delighted in being a proud patron of the Oklahoma City Symphony, holding season tickets for more than thirty consecutive years. Last year Mrs. Hanna was honored when the Chickasaw tribe recognized her as a senior member of the tribe and presented her with a brooch.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Hardwick (sic, s/b Hamilton) Payne and Bessie Bird Payne; her husband, James Cullen Hanna; sisters, Anna Laura Strong, Dora Faye Yeager, Patricia Gabriela (Patty Gay) Payne; and a brother, Thomas Hardwick Payne.

She is survived by her three sons, Fred Hanna, Tom Hanna and John Hanna; a daughter-in-law Gabrielle Hanna; grandsons, Brandon Hanna, Travis Hanna, and Cameron Hanna, children of Fred and Gabrielle; and a great-grandson, Jack Hanna, son of Brandon Hanna.

She will be forever remembered for the warm tender kindness that she shined on those that were closest to her and the unique glow of genuine charity with which she embraced all that were lucky enough to be close to her for however momentary.

She will be dearly missed by all those who knew, and therefore, loved her.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, January 2014)

Lois married James Cullen Hanna on 22 Nov 1951 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. James was born on 16 Dec 1925 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma; died on 21 Nov 1990 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]