Patricia J. Horn

Patricia "Patty" Jo (Cruse) Horn, born January 17, 1940 to Joe Cruse and Eleanor (Crews) Cruse, passed away on March 24, 2025. She was born in Du Quoin Marshall Browning hospital and graduated from O'Fallon, IL High in 1958 and from SIU-Carbondale in 1962 with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education.
In 1963 she married Carl Horn, also a teacher. Carl passed on November 9, 2020. She began her teaching career in Waukegan followed by multiple teaching jobs in Ridgeway, Carmi, and Sparta before she and Carl settled in at Zeigler-Royalton School District where she taught 6th grade English for 26 more years.
She spent 25+ years alongside her husband and children as an assistant coach, cheerleading sponsor, school newspaper sponsor, Den Mother with the Boy Scouts, scorekeeper for Z-R high school sports and little league teams, and as a dedicated sports fan to all of her children's and grandchildren's teams. Pat and Carl were routinely seen in the front 2 rows of volleyball and basketball games or the first row behind the fence at the ball diamonds. After retirement, she also served several years as President of the Royalton Public Library Board.
Pat and Carl retired together in 1994. Their vacations consisted of driving to 49 states collecting pictures of state capitols throughout the years. The drive to Alaska was a topic of conversation for years.
She was of Christian faith, attending several churches as a member. She was also known for writing over 100 poems for friends, family and colleagues for their retirements, birthdays, anniversaries, and school events. But to the people that met her, she was simply known and loved for being generous, kind hearted, and a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Her willingness to sacrifice and help and comfort others made her special to everyone who knew her.
She is survived by her children Karla Horn of Alexandria, VA; Michael (Cami) Horn of Marion, IL; Mark Horn of Herrin, IL; and Julie (Clint) Connor of Herrin, IL. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Tyler Horn of Carbondale, IL; Abby Horn of Carbondale, IL; Maggie (Zack) Liddell of Herrin, IL, Myles Horn of Marion, IL, Mia Connor of Rockford, IL, Mayson Horn of Marion, IL, Fox Connor of Herrin, IL and Merick Horn of Marion, IL, and great grandchildren Heidi and Crew Liddell of Herrin, IL.
She is also survived by one brother, Lon (Jody) Cruse of Phoenix AZ, and several brothers and sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, March 28, 2025 at Herrin First Christian Church/ 2804 S. Park/ Herrin, IL 62948. Pastor Eric Lam and Rev. Alan Milligan will officiate. Burial will follow at Egyptian Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 4-7:00 PM, Thursday, March 27, 2025 at Herrin First Christian Church and from 9 AM until time of service, Friday at the church. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to McCluskie-Miller Funeral Home in Herrin.
Memorial donations are suggested to Hospice of Southern Illinois or The Royalton Public Library District and will be accepted at the church or mailed to McCluskie-Miller Funeral Home/ 501 S. 12th/ Herrin, IL 62948.
For more information please visit www.mccluskiemillerfh.com.
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