Reba Mae (Fitzpatrick) Elston

Reba Mae Elston, 87 went to be with her Lord and Savior, Friday, January 5, 2018. Reba was born May 23, 1930 to Edgar and Mable Fitzpatrick. Reba left Lincoln high school as a junior in 1944 and married Fred Elston, Jr. To this union they had 3 sons and 1 daughter. Reba went back to school at Pawnee High School in 1971 and received her GED in 1972 (6 months) Reba’s husband, Fred passed away in 1983 after a short illness. He worked as a service station attendant, custodian at the Pawnee National Bank and post office worker. Reba attended Indian Meridian through the COEDD program and in September 1988. She finished her basic secretarial training in May of 1989. Reba worked at the DHS in 1990 under the Green Thumb program and had to quit in 1991 after she slipped on ice leaving work and had to have knee surgery. The eldest son Freddie passed away in 1991. He worked 25 years for Conoco in Selma North Carolina as a Terminal Engineer. Billy retired from Conoco in the early 90's because of illness. He was an International Exploration Technician in Ponca City for over 23 years. Larry was a Computer Technician and a Credit Card processer at Conoco for 24 years. He now works at Bridgeway as a case manager for community sentencing. Jodi Elston Abington is the executive Director for the South Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging. She’s been with the agency for 29 years. Reba also worked at the Pawnee Library for several years until she retired. Her daughter Jodi moved her to Arkansas City to live with her in 2013. She cared for her mother until she had to decide nursing home placement was needed. Reba had 8 grandchildren, 2 deceased, Billy Elston Jr. and Sonya Blake, 4 great grandchildren, 2 deceased Brianna Blake and A'Naya McCombs. Reba has one living sister Lena Jones of Ponca City, Oklahoma and a host of other relatives Reba was proud of each of her children and they were proud of her. Reba is preceded in death by her Mother, Father, two sisters, and one brother. The Elston family would like to thank everyone for the calls, cards, food and love during their time of loss. Services will be held Saturday 10:00 A.M. at the First Baptist Church in Pawnee with Rev Milton Colbert and Pastor C. Edward Watson officiating. Internment will follow in the Highland Cemetery in Pawnee. Services were entrusted to the Poteet Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Pawnee.