Mildred (Sue) Louise Hanlon, 87, of Turpin, OK passed away on Saturday, January 2, 2021 at her home.
She was born on November 3, 1933 to George and Goldie (Albright) Pattern at Ames, OK.
She married Edward Hanlon on July 1, 1951; he preceded her in death on December 30, 2015.
Though she was named Mildred Patten, she had naturally curly hair and was called Suzy Q from a small age. The name stuck and most people knew her simply as Sue Hanlon. Sue’s father was a famous watermelon farmer in the Ames area, well known for producing award winning melons. She was the Watermelon Queen one year. She grew up without indoor plumbing or electricity. Then, after her father had a heart attack, they purchased and ran a tavern near Geary OK. She finished high school in Hinton OK.Sue was the valedictorian when she graduated high school and then married Ed that summer. They moved to Okmulgee, OK. She worked at a café for only $0.35/hr. They later moved to Colorado for Ed’s training as a diesel mechanic thanks to the GI Bill. Their moves for several years were often and all over: El Reno, OK, Amarillo, TX, Oklahoma City, OK, Tulsa, OK, Liberal KS, Woodward, OK, among others. In these moves, she did many things. She was a Cub Scout and then a Girl Scout leader, she was a president of the PTA, she ran the shipping office in Turpin for the Beaver Express Freight and she took H&R Block tax classes. She was heavily involved in the Home Extension ladies group in Beaver and competed in the fairs in Liberal, KS and Beaver, OK. They then settled down in Turpin OK in 1970. They started their own business in 1975. They continued this business until they retired in 1989. She was the bookkeeper and managed the budget. After they retired, they traveled all over the country, including up to New York State and several trips up to Washington State. They became snowbirds, spending winters in south Texas and coming back to Turpin for the summers. They were well known for their garden. They both spent many summer months tending that garden and selling the produce in the Liberal Farmer’s Market and sold and donated food to the Turpin Public School.
Sue is survived by her three children- David and his wife Donna Hanlon, Orange, TX, Jackie and her husband Bob Wesley, Turpin OK, and Richard and his husband Tim Hanlon, Livingston TX; grandchildren- Michael Wesley and wife Christina, John Wesley, Angela Smiddy, Melisa Schroeder and husband Jon Milledge, and Vanessa Schroeder; great grandchildren – Kevin Wesley, Tyler Wesley, Matthew Smiddy, Mark Smiddy, Ethan Smiddy, Kiegan Pace, Kaylee Schroeder, Brianna Schroeder, Junior Milledge, Sam Finch, Daniel Wesley, Trinity Schroeder, Jordan Schroeder, Jayden Schroeder, and Gabriel Schroeder; her older brother, JD Patten of Tulsa, OK and her sister-in-law Ellen Morrison of Conawango, NY.
She was also preceded in death by her parents, two brothers – Kenny and Jack; two sisters- Jean and Betty and all of their spouses.
A Private Family Memorial Service will be 4:30pm Friday, January 8, 2021 at the Miller Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Reece Player, officiating. The service will be Live Streamed through the Miller Mortuary FaceBook page for friends to view.
