Patsy Lou (Heard) Bruce, age 83, a longtime Atoka, OK resident, was born on Tuesday, August 27, 1940, to J.T. and Ollie Myrtle (Evans) Heard, at Stringtown, OK. Patsy passed away on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at Durant, OK. She attended Stringtown Schools until 8th grade, when she moved to Atoka High School where she graduated with the class of 1958. She went on to receive her Bachelors in education from OU in 1962 and her Masters in education from SOSU in 1966. Patsy was a teacher, she began her teaching career in Carlsbad, NM, later moving to Richardson, TX. Mrs. Bruce finished her career as a 5th grade teacher at Mamie Johnson. She was a teacher for 33 years. She married Junior Bruce on Monday, July 29th, 1968 at Stringtown, Oklahoma. They spent 49 wonderful years before his passing on December 22, 2017. Patsy was a member of Stringtown Baptist Church and later attended New Zion Methodist Church, and she was also a member of the Oklahoma Education Association. She loved to travel, shop, go to the casino, and most of all spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She is survived by her daughters, Ruthie Sheffield and husband Dale of Atoka, OK, Charla Slabotsky and husband Jay of Piedmont, OK; grandchildren, Chris Powell and husband Wade of Atoka, OK, Cody Sheffield of Atoka, OK, Callie Merck and husband Zach of Atoka, OK, Cate Slabotsky of Norman, OK, Adam Slabotsky of Piedmont, OK; great grandchildren, Avery, Kiersyn, Case, Kavie, Kade, Sawyer, Tannah, Jaylee, Brylee, Braelyn, Rhett; along with numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and dearly loved friends.
Patsy was preceded in death by her husband, Junior Bruce; parents, J.T. and Ollie Myrtle (Evans) Heard; sister, Judy Tinker and husband Roy; sisters in law, Molly Decker and husband Bob, Joyce Wilkie and husband Oscar.
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DATE OF SERVICES: 02:00 PM Tuesday, April 30th, 2024
PLACE OF SERVICES: Brown's Funeral Chapel, Atoka, Oklahoma
OFFICIATING: Wayne Edgar
INTERMENT: Bruce Hill Cemetery, Atoka, Oklahoma
CASKETBEARERS: Dale Sheffield, Jay Slabotsky, Cody Sheffield, Adam Slabotsky, Case Tipton, Kade Powell,
Rhett Merck, Zach Merck, Wade Powell
HONORARY CASKETBEARERS: Chris Powell, Callie Merck, Cate Slabotsky, Avery Tipton, Kiersyn Powell,
Kavie Powell, Jaylee Pettigrew, Brylee Merck, Braelyn Merck, Sawyer Sheffield, Tannah Sheffield
CONDOLENCES MAY BE SENT TO THE FAMILY BY EMAIL TO: BROWNS@ATOKA.NET.  PLEASE REFERENCE THE NAME OF THE DECEASED IN YOUR CORRESPONDENCE
FAMILY NIGHT WILL BE MONDAY 6-8PM.

SERVICES UNDER THE DIRECTION OF
BROWN'S FUNERAL SERVICE - ATOKA, OK