Patsy Jean Kendrick passed away on Tuesday, November 28^th surrounded by her family who loved her dearly.  She was born November 1, 1943, in Graham TX, the youngest of six children to William and Ella Mae Phillips.  Patsy was raised in Graham and was working at a furniture store when her future husband walked in to buy furniture.  She married Vernon Kendrick on July 20^th, 1963, and together they had three children.

Patsy was preceded in death by her parents, by her husband Vernon, and by her beloved first-born daughter, Deana; brothers RJ Phillips and Melvin Ray Phillips; sisters Neta Echols (who beat her to the pearly gates last month), Opal Youngblood, and Veda Fields.

She is survived by her son Quay Kendrick and his wife Amy, daughter Kay Litchy and her husband Adam; four granddaughters:  Mackenzie and Marissa Kendrick, Ella Litchy, and Madi Wofford; one grandson, Hayden Wofford; a great grandson Maveryck Kendrick and a great granddaughter Malaya Mir.  She is also survived by Mackenzie and Marissa’s mother, Malinda Kendrick.  Patsy treasured all her family, including her numerous brothers and sisters -law, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Patsy and Vernon moved to Missouri and lived on a small farm in Rogersville Missouri.    After their children were grown, they moved to Springfield.  Patsy was a stay-at-home mom when her children were growing up.  She later became a Mary Kay Sales Director, and even earned a free car.  After Vernon’s death, she worked in various jobs.  She retired from Springfield Public Schools and then worked part time for Crossmark serving samples at Sam’s Club, and became a favorite of kids who loved “Grandma Pat.”  Patsy loved people, and she was especially close to her sisters.  She attended Ridgecrest Baptist Church.  Some of the highlights of her life included traveling to Hawaii twice with her sisters and their husbands, and traveling to Spain to see her daughter Deana when she was stationed in Rota Spain.  While there, they travelled to Portugal and Morocco.  She had served as Treasurer of The Deana Kendrick Foundation, a scholarship established in her late daughter’s honor, which has granted over 75 scholarships since its inception in 2003.

In March of 2020, she became a great grandmother for the first time and embraced her new role as Gigi.  Four days later, she suffered a major brain bleed and was taken to the hospital the same day Covid restrictions were enforced.  She spent her recovery in isolation.  While she never really understood why we were meeting at her window, she always showed up and was delighted to see everyone.  Her nephew Brian Seitz ran for state representative and co-authored Missouri House Bill 2116, “No Patient Left Behind” which was inspired in part by Patsy’s story.  The bill was signed June of 2022.  There was not a dry eye in the house when she had her first real life hug from Maveryck since he was born.  It came as a surprise to nobody that knew her that she quickly made friends and continued to embrace life during her three years at The Township Senior Living, quickly joining up with a pack of sassy ladies who dubbed themselves The Golden Girls.

Visitation will be on Monday, December 4^th at 9:00 am and funeral service at 10:00 am at Greenlawn North in Springfield MO.   Interment will follow at Greenlawn North Memorial Gardens.  Feel free to send lots of flowers as we plan on delivering them to every resident in Patsy’s assisted living facility.  You can also honor Patsy’s memory by visiting residents or volunteering at a care facility or sending a donation to Ridgecrest Baptist Church Cares Ministry c/o Sherry Hebert, 2210 W Republic Rd, Springfield, MO 65807, a ministry devoted to care facilities and the homebound.