Beautiful, inside and out. These are the words that describe Paulette Patten Shreck. Beautiful in the way she loved her husband, children and sisters. Beautiful in the way she cherished her grandchildren. Beautiful in the care she gave her friends, students and colleagues. Beautiful in the way she held tight to her niece and nephews.
Paulette, who was affectionately teased as "Reda," gave of herself to all those who were blessed enough to know her. Whether it was on Christian mission trips with students to Hungry, Yugoslavia and Austria, or to her grandchildren as she sat of the floor playing with them, her quiet ways simply drew people to her. Family meals, eating her famous spaghetti casserole, always became raucous, with her kids laughing and Gary, her husband, telling jokes. With her brilliant mind for early childhood educaton, her whole extended family benefitted from her gentle advice and guidance.
Paulette was born on December 17, 1946, to O.C. and Fredia Patten, and was the middle child the three sisters. Smart, shy and lovely, she was always a diligent student, eventually earning a Bachelor of Science in Education from Oklahoma Christian University, where she met Gary, the love of her life and her husband for 52 years. Together, they had three children, Brett, Garrick and Tiffany, and took them to church every time the doors opened, teaching them and their friends the wonderful message of Jesus. While married and raising three busy active children, she earned two Masters degrees, one in Early Childhood Education and one in Counseling and Community Services. But her PhD in Early Childhood Education was a crowning jewel to her. She was so proud to be called "Doctor."
She was a professor of Early Childhood at Oklahoma Christian for 15 years, teaching alongside her husband. She moved to University of Central Oklahoma, where she was a professor for 25 years, the last twelve years as Chairman of the Early Childhood Department. Prior to her professorships, she taught pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first grade, even being the the classroom teacher for all three of her children. She retired just a few years ago after 45 years of teaching. During her career, she was named the Gaylord Chair of Distinguished Teaching, Outstanding Early Childhood Educator, Outstanding Mentor Award, and too many other honors to list.
If you think of Paulette's life as a pebble thrown in a pond, the ripples of "positive" just keep going and going. Her students admire her and call her their favorite professor. Her colleagues relied on her knowledge and demeanor to help with tough issues. But what Paulette valued was God, family and friends. Fifteen mission trips with OC students was part of who she was – a woman of faith who used her talents in the best way. She and Gary, as sponsors, became the "second parents" for students who attended Vienna Studies. Her husband truly loved and honored her until his death, her grandchildren flocked to her, spending too many nights to count. The dinners she made for family, friends, students and newcomers were simply a way of life for her. Proverbs 31:25-28 speaks of a woman like Paulette – she was clothed with dignity and grace, and she spoke with wisdom. Her children "arise and called her blessed, her husband also, and he praises her."
She is predeceased by her husband, Gary, her parents O.C. and Fredia Patten, and her older sister, Claudette Dills. She is survived by her three children, Brett and Keli Shreck of Edmond, Oklahoma, Garrick and Ashley Shreck of Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Tiffany and Norman Smith of Edmond, Oklahoma; her grandchildren, Kassidy, Natalie, Benjamin, Nicholas, Gloria and Moses Shreck; and Hannah, Fisher, Isaac, Essie, Annie and Gabe Smith; her sister Patty Gail Patten, and niece Patrice Douglas, and nephews Jay Dills and Nathan Dills, and numerous great nieces and nephews.
Viewing will take place from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 13, 2025 at Matthews Funeral Home with family present to greet friends.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at Memorial Road Church of Christ.
Live stream of the service can be watched at the link below.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you would consider making a donation to the Alzheimer's Association in Paulette's memory by clicking here.