Patty (Fly) Peavey was born on September 19, 1931, in Chadwick, Missouri, the daughter of Elsie (Adams) Fly and Fred William Fly. Patty attended church and schools in the Springfield area, as well as Pleasant Hope. Her mother, a teacher, also played and sang in theatre and early radio. Her father was a barber and preacher. Patty began performing at the age of six, singing and playing her accordion. Her brother, Billy, was playing guitar at an early age and along with her sister, Betty, and their parents, performed as the “Fly Family”. They were heard at political rallies, theaters, revivals, and radio programs out of KWTO Springfield, MO and KOAM Pittsburg, KS. Patty’s music took her from the Ozarks to the Renfro Valley Barn Dance in Kentucky. With her sister, Betty, they were on radio station WHAS in Louisville, KY, known as “Betty and Pat”. Betty married and in 1946, Pat joined the theater circuit with Gene Cobb’s big tent show for six months, playing the eastern U.S. She met and married Ralph Peavey on September 13, 1946. In 1947, Patty went on to KFAB radio in Lincoln, NE, performing with the Eddy Sosby’s western swing band, the “Radio Rangers”. Johnny Carson was their announcer. They had the “Blue Ribbon Coffee Show” and the “Prairie Schooner Show”. Patty returned to Renfro Valley Barn Dance show to travel all over Florida with personal appearances and daily radio shows. IN 1953, Patty left Renfro because of her husband’s work in Missouri with the Frisco Railroad. She went on to perform with Brush Creek Follies in Kansas City and the Ozark Jubilee when it began on KYTV in the Jewell Theater in Springfield. In 1984, Ralph retired, and Patty could fulfill a dream of returning to Renfro Valley. She performed on “Sunday Morning Gathering” and in 1990-91 on the “Opry House” and “Old Timers Show”. In 1993, Ralph and Patty moved to Polk County, MO. They enjoyed the friendship of neighbors, church at Harvest Assembly in Fair Play and dinners at the Senior Center.

Patty is preceded in death by her husband, Ralph; one son, Alan Peavey; her parents, and five siblings, brothers: Cotton Fly, Billy Fly, Dean Fly, and sisters: Lotha Nelson Jenkins and Betty Hampton Tate.

She is survived by her daughter, Pam Moore (Bill) of Fair Play; sons: Eddy Peavey of Fair Play, Fred Peavey (Linda) of Kentucky, and daughter, Joy Shrader (Ted) of Oklahoma. She is also blessed with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Patty was interviewed in 1986, she played and sang during the recording. The interview can be found on the Country Music Hall of Fame website, you can find it from the link below.

https://digi.countrymusichalloffame.org/digital/collection/oralhistory/id/3637/rec/9

A song, “Tale Me Back to Renfro Valley”, never left her heart.

A visitation for Patty will be held on Thursday, February 27 2025, from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. at Harvest Assembly of God Church in Fair Play, Missouri. Her funeral service will begin at 11:00 A.M. Interment will follow at Robberson Prairie Cemetery in Greene County. Arrangements have been entrusted to Pitts Chapel of Greenlawn Funeral Homes.