Memorial service for Rayma Jo Laughing will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at Bethel Pentecostal Holiness Church, 501 S. Myers, Apache, Oklahoma 73006 with Pastor Les Claborn officiating.

Rayma Jo Patterson Laughing passed away peacefully Friday, January 16, 2026, in Lawton, Oklahoma. She was born November 17, 1951, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Raymond and Jo Ann Patterson.

Rayma worked for the Department of Defense at Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City, Oklahoma; she had her own secretarial business called "Administrative Resources," raised calves for ranchers and was a freelance writer, and homemaker. Rayma battled illness her whole adult life with unwavering faith in God. She was an example of handling illness gracefully and without complaint. It often wore on her and even in the deepest difficulties, she trusted Jesus.

Her hobbies included dancing, family, children, and animals with an exceptional skill of making people feel special! Family visits were an actual event because she created games and group participation conversations. She celebrated all the holidays as long as she could overcome her physical limitations.

Rayma wrote for newspapers in New York: "Akwesasne Phoenix" and "Indian Time"; and in Texas: "Hico News Review" and "The Trading Post". She had other offers to write but didn't have the physical strength to take those jobs on.

She raised calves for ranchers in North Central Texas. She sang to the calves as she bottle fed them and prayed for them; and they suffered no mortalities. Bill recalls how they danced in the laundromat, gas station, and kitchen. Rayma made a kid-sized spaceship out of cardboard for Vivian. It was complete with a control panel and a picture of earth in the window. Rayma did this because right at that time, man was taking his first steps on the moon! It impressed 4-year-old Vivian of the magnitude of the event! There are inspiring and funny stories too numerous to tell! Our comfort is knowing she's safely home with Jesus!

Survivors include her beloved husband, William Laughing of the home, sisters Lieu Ann and husband Joe Weaver of Midwest City, Oklahoma and Vivian Messer French and husband Mike of Apache, Oklahoma; three nephews, Clinton and wife Evelyn Weaver of Midwest City, Oklahoma, Timothy and wife Anaiza Messer of Ft Worth, Texas, and Andrew and wife Brittny Messer of Roanoke, Texas; 3 great nephews and 3 great nieces. Two daughters, Melinda and husband Tim Morgan of Collinsville, Oklahoma and Fern Ivy of Moore, Oklahoma and their children.

Rayma loved and adored her precious daughters by marriage who were such a source of joy to her! Rayma's deepest sorrow was that she had no biological children. She had so much love to give, extending to her little sisters, the neighborhood kids, her dogs and cats and other assorted animals!

Rayma was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Jo Ann Patterson, and one nephew, Joe Raymond Weaver.

An online guest book and sympathy cards are available at www.beckerfuneral.com