Birdie Ruth Payette

Birdie Ruth (Rupe) Payette was born the youngest of 10 children to David Andrew and Jessie Mae (Eggleston) Rupe on January 30, 1917 west of Walters, OK and departed this life in Walters on January 26, 2012 at the age of 94 years 11 months and 27 days. Birdie grew in Emerson Community west of Walters. She married Clair Ambrose Payette on December 24, 1933 at the Methodist parsonage in Walters. They made their home at Walters eventually moving to a farm east of Lawton and onto a farm at Sterling. In 1952 Mr. Payette entered the ministry and over the next 26 years the family moved from town to town including stints at Bethel, Randlett, Roosevelt, Ft. Cobb, Grandfield, Tecumseh, Ada, Ketchum, Ringling and Temple. He retired in 1978 and they have made their home in Walters since that time. Birdie was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Walters for many years, serving as president of the UMW and was in charge of the funeral dinner committee for many years. She also did home health and for a time ran the Senior Citizens Center. She enjoyed cooking, flower and vegetable gardening, clocks, mowing and traveling. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Clair on March 23, 1983; 9 brothers and sisters; and a grandson, Duane Clair Sullivan. Survivors include 7 children, Fern Yackeyonney of Walters, Jessie Payette of Walters, Bessie Sullivan of Marlow, David Payette of Sterling, Richard Payette of Walters, Becky Payette of Walters and Donnie Payette of Whitesboro, TX; 20 grandchildren; 31 great grandchildren; 13 great-great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.