Lyn Pryse Elam

Our lovely Lyn was wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, athlete, artist, skier, tennis player, golfer, bridge player, teacher, gardener, and self-taught piano player. Lyn was a beautiful, intelligent, kind, selfless, caring, creative, positive and wonderful person. Lyn never met a stranger.

Lyn was born in Oklahoma City on August 18, 1935, to Gether and Zack Pryse, of Ponca City. She had three brothers, and is survived by one, Scott Pryse of Oklahoma City. Her brothers, Zack Pryse and Dane Pryse predeceased her. She attended public schools in Ponca City, graduating from Ponca City High School in 1953. While at Ponca City High School she was named the outstanding girl athlete of the school.

Lyn attended the University of Oklahoma, graduating in 1957 with a degree in history and government. While at OU, Lyn was a member of Chi Omega sorority, and a counselor of Hammill House, a women's dormitory. She was her sorority's program chair. She was the lyricist and choreographer for Chi Omega's Sooner Scandals entry, which placed first in the Sooner Scandals' competition. After her college graduation, Lyn taught history and government at Ponca City Military Academy, and history, government, and English at U.S. Grant High School in Oklahoma City, and for a summer session at Central High School.

Lyn married Theodore M. (Ted) Elam in 1958, and they have three children, Pryse Elam (Ellen), of Delray Beach, Florida, Elain Elam Frogge (Greg) and Elizabeth Elam, of Oklahoma City, and five grandchildren. Her grandchildren include Teddy Elam (Lizzy), of Delray Beach, Florida, Baird Elam Rodawig (Chase), of Denver, and Annie Bishop

(Chris), also of Denver, Hannah Lyn Frogge of Santa Barbara California, and Lindsey Frogge of San Francisco, California. Lyn has four great grandchildren, Abigail Anne Elam and Caroline Stewart Elam, both of Delray Beach, Florida, and Jude Rodawig, and Charlie Rodawig of Denver, Colorado.

Lyn was a home room mother, a Girl Scout leader, a member of the Junior League of Oklahoma City, where she served as Provisional Education Chair, and she was Chair of Touchstone School's speaker bureau. Lyn served as President of the Tuesday Study Club. She also was President of the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club ladies' tennis association. Lyn successfully participated in a number of tennis tournaments at Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club. Lyn was runner-up for the women's tennis doubles championship at Oakwood Country Club in Enid. Lyn and Ted enjoyed their time at Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, where Lyn played rounds of golf, some with Ted, and participated in art classes and art showings.

Lyn was an outstanding artist and a co-founder of the Studio Art Gallery, where her art was frequently shown. Her paintings brought happiness and joy to all who saw them. She was a frequent exhibitor of her art at shows at numerous locations in Oklahoma City, including at the Norman Wilks Gallery, the La Baguette Restaurant, and many Tri-Delt art shows. Lyn was a prominent artist at several of the Decorators' Show House events, and at the University of Oklahoma "ARTS! ARTS! ARTS!" events, where her art graced the cover of the event's brochure program, and she was awarded the best-of-show painting award. Lyn was a featured artist at the Oklahoma City Garden Show. Lyn also exhibited her paintings at the Brentwood Gallery in Brentwood, Tennessee and at Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California.

Lyn served as Co-Chair and as Chair of the Beaux Arts Ball. Lyn was the moving force, and single-handedly raised the money, to obtain a thermal imaging device for the fire department of the City of Nichols Hills. For over 30 years, Lyn loved playing bridge each Tuesday with her four bridge-playing companions and good friends, Carolyn, Beth, Sandy and Jean Marie.

Lyn was charming, loving, generous, creative, talented, and beautiful outside and internally. Lyn always had kind words for her family, her friends and acquaintances. Lyn never met a stranger. Lyn had a special fondness for Mary Gaddis, her good friend and cookie supplier! Lyn was a life-long Episcopalian, and a member of All Souls Episcopal Church in Oklahoma City.

Ted's love and care for Lyn continued up until her last day, as he visited her every day at Quail Ridge Senior Living Center. Lyn's family would like to thank the professionals and staff at Quail Ridge Senior Living Center in Oklahoma City, who provided such meaningful and caring help and comfort to Lyn.

At Lyn's request, her funeral service will be limited to her family. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in Lyn's memory to All Souls Episcopal Church, 6400 North Pennsylvania A venue, 73116, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, or the charity of your choice. Arrangements are under the direction of Smith and Kernke Funeral Directors.