Patricia Ratterman Hadley, who worked in the broadcasting industry for 27 years, died of cancer April 14 at her Oklahoma residence. She was 71.

Her daughter, Patricia Wirthlin of Terrace Park, was named after her mother.

"She was an amazing storyteller and we would beg for more," she said. "I do recall seeing her on television and I couldn't believe my mom was on TV. I always thought she was bigger than life."

Mrs. Hadley was nominated for a regional Emmy award and had served two terms as president of the Cincinnati Chapter of American Women in Radio & Television. Eight years of her career was spent at WLWT-TV, where she started as a press information writer, then worked as a news writer, street reporter and news editor/producer.

Before joining WLWT, Mrs. Hadley worked as an account executive for KGMC/KOCB-TV in Oklahoma City.

She also had a public relations business. She served as an assistant public relations director and a publication editor and coordinator of volunteers at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.

Mrs. Hadley volunteered on various community boards in Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health Housing Task Force. She was National Alliance on Mental Illness Oklahoma State Board president in 1999, and a board member from 1994 to 2000. She was media consultant for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City from 1993 to 1994, and served as a tutor for the Oklahoma City Literacy Council.

The eldest of seven siblings, Mrs. Hadley moved at the age of 10 with her family to Hyde Park after her mother died. She was a graduate of Ursuline Academy.

While attending Trinity College in Washington, D.C., she was captain of the school's tennis team. She held the USTA rankings of No. 1 Ohio Valley Regional and No. 8 Midwest national for girls 15 and under in 1950. When she was 17, Mrs. Hadley won both the junior's Met championship and the Cincinnati Center tournament, the Ohio Valley Regional and was runner-up in the Women's Met. From 1950 to 1953, she played singles for the Cincinnati Junior Wightman Cup Squad.

Also survived by her husband, William G. Hadley of Oklahoma City; four sons, James Seiter of Oklahoma City, R. Thomas Seiter of Lakeway, Texas, William Seiter of Madeira and Daniel Seiter of Lambertville, N.J.; four brothers, Dr. Michael Ratterman of Granville, Ohio, L. Frederick Ratterman Jr. of Anderson Township, Thomas Ratterman of Phoenix and Joseph Ratterman of Hyde Park; a sister, Marguerite Ratterman of Lakewood, Colo.; and 10 grandchildren.

A memorial service will be 9 a.m. May 2 at St. Mary Church, 2853 Erie Ave., Hyde Park.

Memorials made to NAMI Oklahoma, 500 N. Broadway, Suite 100, Oklahoma City, OK 73102

Sources: as noted

Contributed by Marti Graham, April 2007. Information posted as courtesy to viewers and researchers. The contributor is not related to nor researching any of the above.