January 16 1937 November 24 2022
Memorial service for Faye Pankratz, 85, of Inola OK will be held at 2:00 p.m., December 10, at Eden Mennonite Church, Inola OK. Pastor Kelly Dowd will officiate. Faye was born to Arthur and Amelia (Jantz) Pekrul on the family farm, Goltry OK, January 16, 1937. She died in hospice care in Tulsa OK Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2022. Faye attended school at Goltry OK and Oklahoma Bible Academy, Meno OK. She married Harry W. Pankratz on September 19, 1959 at Zoar Mennonite Church, Goltry OK. They made their home in Chouteau OK, then purchased a farm 5 miles West of town where they raised their children, Janet and Jerry. She was reluctant to become a farmer’s wife, but soon adjusted and loved it. Faye’s mission was to develop church pianists, organists and vocalists. She realized this passion at a very early age and began formal piano lessons in second grade. She excelled in piano and could play by ear in addition to reading music. She began accompanying groups as a fourth grader. She attended Phillips University and Northeastern University, majoring in vocal music along with instruction in piano and organ. Faye wished she could have completed her music degree after she married, but decided her talents were best suited to teaching students privately which she did for 70 years. She was a member of Eden Mennonite Church and led the music program for many years. More recently, she was the organist for the First Presbyterian Church, Chouteau. Faye also enjoyed painting watercolor cards, gardening and baking “orange peppernut” cookies. In years past, she was “famous” for her double-dipped fried chicken. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Harry, daughter Janet Hiebert of Broken Arrow OK, son Jerry and daughter-in-law Kim Pankratz of Inman KS, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren; two brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Ted and Marge Pankratz of Hutchinson KS and Bill and Liz Pankratz of Inola OK. She was preceded in death by her parents, and 2 sisters, Joyce Clements and Virginia Shumate. In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be made to Mennonite Central Committee.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Faye Mildred Pekrul Pankratz January 16 1937 November 24 2022.
Musgrove Merriott Smith Funeral Service & Crematory
Death notice for the town of: Claremore, state: Oklahoma