In Colbert, Oklahoma, Monte and Lizzy Mae Payne became the proud parents of a beautiful, precious baby girl on June 24, 1935. They named their new daughter Mae Katherine.


At a young age, Mae Katherine realized the importance of a personal relationship with Christ and accepted the Lord into her life. She attended Church faithfully. She became a member of Greater Canaan Baptist Church, where she was active in the kitchen.


Sister Mae met Pat Rucker, and their union was blessed with eight children. Later in life, she met and married Joe Cole. Affectionately referred to as "Granny", she loved cooking, taking care of her animals, cleaning her yard and shopping for hours.


Mae Katherine Cole, after 72 years with us, answered the call of her Lord and Savior on Thursday morning, August 23, 2007 from Muskogee, Oklahoma. Those who greeted her at Heaven's gate; her parents, two children, her brother, Lawrence, her sister, Marie Payne Johnson and her grandson, Otis Ray Payne, Jr.

She leaves to cherish her precious memory; two daughters, Loretta Rucker [James] and Patricia Rucker, both of Muskogee, Oklahoma; eight sons, Otis Ray Payne, Sr., Kenneth Rucker, Jerrcker [Anita], Spiro, Oklahoma, Reverend Steve Rucker [Audrey], Bruce Rucker [Pam], Gary Rucker, Wagoner, Oklahoma, Tony Rucker and Don Cubit [Annette]; Twenty-seven grandchildren; twenty-seven great-grandchildren; a special niece, Bobare Lee; special friends, Agnes and "Cabbage;" along with a caravan of other relatives and friends.

The Worship Service of Thanksgiving will be on Friday, August 31, 2007 at 12 Noon at Church Central, 1801 Baltimore. Pastor Guy Parrish, the gracious host and Pastor Steve Rucker, the officiant. The Christian Committal will follow in the Booker T. Washington Cemetery in Muskogee. You may visit Mrs. Cole, as she slumbers at the funeral home in Muskogee on Thursday from 10 AM to 7 PM.