Pat Wayt's Obituary
Patricia Deloris Wayt went home to be with her Lord on July 29, 2024 surrounded by her beloved family. Pat was born September 11, 1944 to Glen Morris and Lola Ethel Martin Musslewhite. She was born at Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler and lived in New London until fourth grade when she moved to White Oak. Pat was the eldest of the three Musslewhite daughters.
While a sophomore in high school, Pat fell in love with local football hero Russell Wayt, a senior. She finished White Oak High School while Russell played football for Rice. She earned her BA from Stephen F. Austin University and married Russell on June 12, 1965. They were inseparable from that day forward until his death in 2020.
After graduation from Rice, Russell played football for the Dallas Cowboys. Pat shared stories about wives’ pool parties at Tom and Alicia Landry’s home and memories of traveling to games. It was a glamorous life, but Pat and Russell were forever White Oak Roughnecks, and they returned home after Russell left the game. Pat taught at Sabine High School prior to beginning a family, and she continued to receive notes of thanks from former students for the remainder of her life.
Pat’s full-time career was being a wife and mom, yet she still found time to have a catering business, serve in the White Oak Community Club, be on the steering committee for White Oak Community Library, and help establish fundraisers for the White Oak Education Foundation. She was a lifetime member of the White Oak PTA and helped implement the WHO (We Help Ourselves) program to teach children to protect themselves against abuse.
Her true love was her precious family, and she gave her all to their health and happiness. Trips to Europe for the entire family, summers at the lake house, and sharing her gift for hospitality were all memories that Pat made with family and friends. She could give a party at the drop of a hat, and she hosted countless showers, weddings, and celebrations for friends and family.
Pat is survived by her sons Chris (Sheri) and Kevin of White Oak; granddaughters Abby Heinshon (Dalton) of Longview and Emma Roberson (Cameron) of Temple, sister Charlotte Duty (Gary) of White Oak, and sisters-in-law June Perryman of Gladewater and Peggy Schroder of Safford, Arizona. She is also survived by her beloved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of over 50 years Russell Wayt, her parents, her sister Glenda Musslewhite Thurman, and her in-laws Edna and Don C. Wayt.
Although Pat’s health deteriorated following Russell’s death, her faith never wavered. A celebration of her love and faith will be held at White Oak Community Church at 10 a.m. on August 10. Memorial donations may be made to the White Oak Education Foundation. Arrangements are with Radar Funeral Home, Longview. The family would like to give special thanks to Kathy Overbeck for the devotion and care she provided to her friend Pat.
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