Paula Sue Kirkpatrick (née Eller) of Wichita, Kansas passed away this past Sunday in a car accident while returning from a family reunion in Oklahoma. She spent her last day showing her grandsons some of her favorite childhood vacation memories.
Born in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma in 1948, Paula was the oldest child of DB “Pete” and Pauline Eller. As a child she enjoyed playing with her many cousins and visiting her father’s grocery store. Paula attended Broken Arrow high school, graduating in 1966. In 1979 Paula, her husband and two children moved to Wichita. Throughout her life, she worked at McCollom Elementary School and in the administrative offices of USD 259, before retiring from the Wichita Area Technical College. In her spare time, Paula could be found working in her beautiful garden or helping others with any number of home-improvement projects. It is an understatement to say that Paula loved her family and friends. She lived to make others happy. She devoted all of her time to taking care of those around her, leaving an incredible legacy of love and compassion. She is so greatly missed.
Paula is preceded in death by father Pete, Aunt Virginia, Uncle LeRoy and niece Natalie Nicole. She is survived by her husband, and partner of over 20 years, Roger Naylor of Wichita and their beloved dog Buddy; her adored children Sara Kirkpatrick and Earl Wilson of Wichita and A.J. Kirkpatrick and Rebecca Cruise of Oklahoma City, OK; her grandsons, who were the heart of her heart, Clifton Carmichael and Khaai and Keeni Wilson of Wichita; much loved step-families Natalie and Paul Montgomery with their children Kevin and Mary, and Tony and Cindy Naylor and their children Anthony, Christopher and John, all of Wichita. She is also mourned by mother Pauline, of Broken Arrow, brother Vechil and his wife Tammy Eller, of Tahlequah, OK, mother-in-law Pauline Kirkpatrick and ex-husband Jon Kirkpatrick of Wichita as well as a plethora of aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and friends.
A public viewing will be held at Hayhurst Funeral Home, 1660 S Elm Place, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012 from 6 to 8 pm on August 1. A Celebration of Life will be held August 9 at 11 am at Riverside Christian, 1001 N. Litchfield, Wichita, Kansas 67203. Memorials can be made to Paula’s Boys, a fund at the Riverside Christian that will support children’s services at the church and the educational needs of her three grandsons. An online memorial has also been established at www.gofundme.com

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Woman killed in crash on U.S. 412

By DYLAN GOGORTH World Staff Writer on Jul 29, 2013, at 4:23 PM

A Wichita, Kan., woman was killed Sunday in a single-vehicle crash on U.S. 412, about three miles east of Oklahoma 18 in Pawnee County.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports Paula Kirkpatrick, 65, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash from head, arm, leg, trunk internal and external injuries.

Kirkpatrick was a passenger in a 2013 Chrysler Town and Country driven by Earl Wilson, 45, of Wichita, Kan., that crashed about 4:42 p.m. Sunday.

Wilson was treated and released with arm and trunk external injuries. Troopers said the vehicle was westbound on U.S. 412, drifted off the north side of the road, struck a guardrail, rolled twice and came to a rest on its wheels.

Five other passengers in the vehicle, all from Wichita, Kan., were injured, according to the report.

Sarah Kirkpatrick, 39, was taken to St. Francis Hospital in critical condition with head, arm, leg and trunk internal injuries.

Keeni Wilson, 4, was treated and released at Cushing Regional Hospital with minor abrasions.

Khaai Wilson, 6, was treated and released at Cushing Regional Hospital with arm and leg injuries.

Clifton Carmichael, 12, was treated and released from Stillwater Medical Center.

Christopher Casler, 12, was taken to St. Francis Hospital in serious condition with trunk internal injuries.

Seat belts were being used by the driver and all passengers, according to the report. Child restraints were in use by the 4-year-old and 6-year-old.

The cause of collision is still under investigation, according to the report, which lists the condition of the driver as "sleepy."