Lona Kathryn Dryden was reunited with her heavenly family on May 18, 2011. . She was born to W.E. & Rina Jane Ratterree on September 7, 1913. She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant daughter, Nancy Carolyn Dryden, & her husband of 68 years, Charles Bailey Dryden, as well as brothers G.A. (Aud) Ratterree and John H. Ratterree.
After the death of her mother, Lona Kathryn was blessed with a “second” mother, Annie Nation Ratterree, who also preceded her in death. A Poteau native, Lona Kathryn graduated from Poteau High School and Northeastern State University, continuing graduate work at the University of Oklahoma. She and Mr. Dryden were married in 1938, and the couple moved to Tulsa where they lived for 50 years. Mr. Dryden was self-employed as an accountant, while Lona Kathryn was a second grade teacher in the Tulsa Public Schools for many years. Both were very active in their church, Immanuel Baptist Church in Tulsa, until they returned to Poteau in 1998, where they affiliated with the First Baptist Church. Lona Kathryn had lived in Ellisville, Missouri, where she died, since 2008.
Survivors include a son and daughter in law, David Charles & Carolyn Dryden of Ellisville, MO; two grandchildren, Paul David Dryden of Ellisville, MO & Katherine Ann Stephens of Maryland Heights, MO; a dear sister in law, Helen Ratterree of Jacksonville, FL; and sever nieces, nephews, & cousins, including several special nieces & nephews from her husband’s family, all of whom dearly loved her.
Services will be 2 pm, Tuesday, May 24, 2001 at the First Baptist Church, Poteau, OK with Rev. Phil McGehee officiating. Interment will follow in Vaughn Cemetery, Gilmore, OK. Pallbearers will be Ed Abernathy, Charles Durant, Scotty McMillian, Kelly Hughes, Archie Baca & Weylin Groom