Breckenridge Texan

Patsy Ruth Condron Spradling passed away peacefully surrounded by family on March 23, 2021. Her graveside service will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, at Bee Branch Cemetery, with JC Burt officiating. The family will welcome friends for a visitation from 5:00-6:00 p.m. on Monday, March 29, 2021, in the Melton-Kitchens Chapel of Memories.

Patsy was born in Sweetwater, Texas, to W.E. (Dud) and Opal Condron on July 21, 1931. The family lived in Anson for a short time before moving to Breckenridge. While in Breckenridge, she participated in the school orchestra in which she played the violin. She also played the piano. Some of her happiest memories were living on the Pitzer Ranch in Caddo, where her dad was ranch manager. She enjoyed riding horses and working cattle with her dad. She always recounted many stories of her days on the ranch. One of them was when she was riding horses with her dad, and it began to rain. Patsy took out her slicker, shook it out, and her horse jumped, throwing her off, and as a result, she broke her right arm. She and her dad were both in trouble when her mother found out. Patsy attended school in Caddo for several years, where she eventually met the love of her life, Ray Spradling, Jr. She met Ray, also known as Rassie, on the school bus that Ray’s dad drove. She always said that he had the most beautiful brown eyes she had ever seen. She was in love and never looked at another boy. She and Ray were married on January 16, 1949. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2019.

Patsy graduated from Breckenridge High School in 1948. One of her dear friends, Betty Jo Waldrip Hamil, always told the story of how she and Pat played hooky from school, and they talked Pat’s mother into taking them to the movies. This was probably the only time that Patsy did not follow the rules.

Patsy and Ray moved to Dallas when they first married but soon returned to Breckenridge. She worked for Dunnigan’s Tool and Supply as a secretary. Then on January 23, 1950, their first child, Raylene, was born. Patsy and Raylene went with Ray to San Diego when he joined the Marines. They lived there until he shipped out for Korea. She developed her love of avocados while in California, and she discovered the best street tacos in Tijuana. She always referred to those tacos throughout her life. On October 24, 1953, their second daughter, Kristy Kay, was born in Breckenridge. Then, in 1954, Ray was promoted to manager for A&P Grocery Store. They then moved to Stephenville, where they lived for nine-and-a-half years. While in Stephenville, Pat was very active in the First Christian Church, where she was the church secretary and sang in the church choir. She was also president of the Christian Women’s Fellowship. She was the Brownie and Girl Scout leader for Raylene’s troop for four years. She took the troop on cook-outs and always helped with day camp. In 1964, Ray was once again promoted with A&P, and the family moved to Waxahachie. Pat always said that at least they didn’t have to move to Nacogdoches because Waxahachie was hard enough to spell. Pat and Ray lived in Waxahachie for 50 years. During that time, Pat was once again actively involved in the girls’ school activities. She also sang in the choir at the First Christian Church. She went to work at Burleson’s Honey, where she was a secretary for almost twenty-five years. Pat was a member of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA), where she served as president and was honored as the Woman of the Year for ABWA. She and Ray were active in the Gingerbread Trail in Waxahachie and always looked forward to June when the event took place. Pat’s favorite time was in the summer after her grandchildren were born. When they got old enough, the kids would spend several weeks with MuMu and Dadoo. Alison remembers when MuMu taught her to drive a stick shift. MuMu worked the clutch while Alison drove. Pat’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the joy of her life.

After 50 years in Waxahachie, Pat and Ray moved back to Caddo to Ray’s home place. They were ready to get back to the country where they raised cattle. They enjoyed sitting on the front porch and watching the cows graze. They were charter members of the Caddo Wildlife Association. They especially enjoyed it when all of the children and grandkids came for a visit. Two of their grandchildren were married at the Oak Grove Baptist Church just up the road from their house. They helped host the rehearsal dinner for their grandson and his future wife in front of the barn. They also hosted the wedding reception for their granddaughter at their home. Caddo was always the place to come and have a good time with MuMu. She even enjoyed the campfires that the kids would have and usually stayed the entire time. After Ray passed away in June 2019, Pat remained in the country with her cows. At 89, she still drove the tractor and put out hay. She always enjoyed the spring when she got to see the new additions to the herd. She said that it was like hunting for Easter eggs when the new calves started showing up.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents, W.E. (Dud) and Opal Condron, along with her dear husband, Ray Spradling, Jr.

She is survived by her daughters, Raylene Spradling Woodall and son-in-law Frank Woodall of Pflugerville, Texas, and Kristy Kay Spradling Conn and son-in-law Mike Conn of Santa Clara, California.; three grandchildren, Colin Woodall and wife Aimee of Denver, Colorado, Matt Woodall and wife Becky of Big Spring, Texas, and Alison Woodall Hartzell and husband Mike of Salado, Texas. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren, Kaeli, Colt, and Maggie Woodall of Big Spring, and Sean and Liam Dougherty and Rylee Hartzell of Salado; one sister-in-law, Betty Spradling of Terrell; along with several nieces and nephews.

Pat was a strong, tough woman with very definite opinions. Her daughters referred to her as “Little Golden Book” because she had an opinion for everything. She will be missed by her family and friends.

Donations in Pat’s memory can be made to Meals on Wheels in Breckenridge or to the St. Labre Indian School and can be left at the funeral home office. Condolences can be made online at meltonkitchens.com.