PATSY L. PANKEY

PATSY L. PANKEY Patsy L. Pankey, 90 of Virginia, Illinois, passed away at 3:25 am on September 19, 2025. Patsy was born May 11, 1935, in Wichita, Kansas, the daughter of Edward Johida and Dorothy May Shreves Van Horn. She married Donald Robert Pankey on July 1, 1956, in Springfield. He preceded her in death on May 18, 1988. Patsy was a 1953 graduate of East High School in Wichita, Kansas. She attended Illinois State University where she met her husband, Donald. They then married and started a family. She continued her education at Western Illinois University and graduated in May 1971 with her degree in special education. She taught for over 29 years, with 27 of those years spent at Beardstown School District working in special education. Patsy served on the Board for Pathway School in Jacksonville and the Virginia Daycare Board, and was a member of Virginia United Methodist Church. She was President of the Virginia Band Boosters where she and her husband enjoyed building the sets and organizing the annual Haunted House. She enjoyed attending events for her children as they were growing up. She also enjoyed quilting, cooking, and spending time with her family. Later in life she learned to appreciate the simple things in life like watching the birds in her window feeder. Patsy was preceded in death by her parents; her stepfather, Wendell W. Simnitt; two brothers, Edward J. Van Horn Jr. (surviving wife Delores of Urbandale, IA) and Garry Van Horn (surviving wife Tieng of Rockingham, NC); and two sisters, Ethel Mae Hardesty and Judith Ann "Judi" Dineen. She is survived by her sister, Carol Sue Wiessing of Springfield. She is also survived by her children, Annette May (Rick) Bell of Lincoln, John Edward (Tina) Pankey of St. Louis, MO, Jannette Lee (Scott) McBride of St. Peters, MO, Bernadette Pankey of Crestwood, MO, and Susan (Dean) Michels of Olney; thirteen grandchildren, Tamar, Anthony, Torry, Brandon, Kaitlin, Marcos, Matteo, Zach, Sarah, Larry, Deanna, Erin, and Chris; eleven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her loving "see and eye" person and special friend Becky (David) Virgin of Arenzville. A funeral service will be held at 11 A.M. Friday, September 26, 2025, at the Virginia United Methodist Church, 401 E. Broadway Street, Virginia, where a visitation will be held 10-11 A.M. Burial will be held following the service at Walnut Ridge Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Patsy's honor may be made to the Pankey Scholarship Fund to benefit Beardstown School District students who wish to pursue a degree in education. The Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Virginia is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be left at buchanancody.com.