Patricia L. Andersen (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Patricia Louise Williams Andersen, daughter of Floyd Henry and Loma Ileeta Garrett Williams, was born December 5, 1944, in Morgan, Missouri. She departed this life Saturday, August 20, 2016, in her home, near Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of seventy-two years, eight months, and fifteen days.
On October 23, 1964, she was united in marriage to Dean Robert Andersen, and to this union two daughters and one son were born.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and her brother, Darrell Williams.
Patricia is survived by her husband, Dean, of the home; two daughters, Michelle Adeana Murphy, and her husband, Russ, of Springfield, Missouri, and Lana Raquel Babb, and her husband, Larry, of St. Peters, Missouri; a son, Eric Robert Andersen, and his wife, Cynda, of Lebanon, Missouri; nine grandchildren, Jordan Andersen, Morgan Andersen, Alaina Babb, Caleb Babb, Kelly Hunt, Corey Murphy, Karley Murphy, Matthew Murphy, and Samantha Murphy; two great-grandchildren; twin brothers, Jerry and Garry Williams, of Lebanon, Missouri; two sisters, Peggy Sue Nelson, of Lebanon, Missouri, and Phylicia (Lynn) Harrell, of Springfield, Missouri; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
She was born near Morgan, Missouri, and graduated from Hartville High School. She later earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education and her Master’s Degree in Special Education from Missouri State University. After years as a full-time mother and bookkeeper for Dean’s business, Pat and her daughter, Michelle, actually earned their undergraduate degrees in the field of education on the same day. Pat taught in Lebanon, Stoutland, Conway and at Joel E. Barber Schools spanning a total of seventeen years, with a focus on sixth grade education and special education. She saw her time with children as a ministry and loved every moment of helping to shape young lives. Patricia’s claim to fame in her teaching career was that she never had to send a child to the principal’s office. When asked about this by the principal, Pat responded, “I guess I just love them into submission”.
Patricia and Dean were active members of Trinity Lutheran Church in their earlier years, and Pat taught Sunday school there. Then, they joined Southern Heights Christian Church where they have served for over twenty-seven years. She participated in Moms in Touch and also helped sew dresses for a mission in another country.
She was a great hand to have around when Carl Andersen, her father-in-law, was running his dairy farm, as well as helping Dean with his Polled Hereford farm, Andersen Acres. She and the children even showed cattle at the county fair. She helped Dean run his air-conditioning and refrigeration business, Andersen Air-Conditioning. Dean proudly tells the story that she was such a young beauty that she was often asked by salesmen, “Is your daddy in?” Patricia and Dean rarely missed a sporting event for their children. Patricia was a loving caregiver to her parents and Dean’s parents in their later years.
Pat had many talents that covered various fields of accomplishment. As a youngster, she was a great shot, much to the disappointment of her brothers. As the oldest in her family, she became a great farmhand, so much so that she never really learned to cook; fortunately, she married a man who could. Pat was active in the Girls Scouts with her daughters as a leader for several years. She was involved in and marched for the March of Dimes organization, worked for Muscular Dystrophy Foundation, and was the president of the Parent Teacher Association at Hillcrest Elementary School. She was an accomplished seamstress, crafting beautiful clothes for herself and her family. In her later years, she quilted like her mother, Loma, and carried on the tradition of gifting quilts to her grandchildren for their graduations. She, Dean and her sister, Peggy, finished the quilt this summer for Caleb, who won’t graduated until 2018; he received the quilt on his sixteenth birthday. She also loved to draw and paint, was an avid reader, and enjoyed writing as well.
Patricia was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and her accomplishments and know that her family and friends will cherish the wonderful memories she created with them during her rich lifetime.
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