Pat was the Queen of cards at any game she played, whether it was canasta, gin, poker or solitaire. She lived for Tuesday nights at the Bingo Hall and rarely walked out without a win. No amount of bingo cards were too much for her to cover and her luck was always present. Mom LOVED to bowl and rarely finished in 2nd place. Mom was a fan of crime novels, CSI, Dr. Pol and any Poker tournament she could find on the tube. And let’s not forget the 24 hour loop of Dirty Dancing back in 1987.
We are certain Pepsi Co. would be bankrupt without Mom’s obsessive consumption. In her later years, she became the Master of the Swiss Cake Roll and Ice Cream diet for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. We all knew when her birthday came around, we were headed to Red Lobster.
To say that she had a unique bond with each of her Grandkids would be an understatement. For Mad, it would be sharing the love of Harry Potter. For Soph it was getting the keys to her Mustang (what was Mom thinking). For Bud it’s never letting him win at Yahtzee. For RubyGrace, their unconditional affection and unspoken devotion. For Charley it was “where DID Grandma hide her Swiss Cake Rolls”?
For her 3 lucky daughters, Mom always had great advice when needed, and only when asked for, (most of the time) and shared her love for the sun and beaches, animals, visits to the theater, Hallmark Channel, and never, ever, ever said No to a DQ or Sonic stop. We’ve all inherited her passion for animals. The 12 dogs between us are testament. On our annual family camping trips, Mom made sure all the necessities of the house fit in the bed of the truck and we never wanted for anything.
Mom could make a mean cinnamon/french toast that the Grandkids requested weekly and we all will miss her specialties including her tuna, potato salad, egg sandwiches and spaghetti.
But most of all, we will just miss knowing and feeling her in the room. For even though she may not make a sound, to know she was near, was more than enough to feel safe and loved and supported.
To all who were a part of her life in Freeburg, know she found joy in dinner with the Supper Club at Gary’s or going to “The Boat” or the fine dining of Valentine’s. While working her 40 years in downtown St. Louis at CPI Corp, she made lifelong friends. But most of all she loved being with any of you and sharing a laugh.
She was looking forward to getting back to town for the Church Picnic and already had her ticket booked for 2021. We are sure she’ll be there in spirit and pass on her winning luck.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 38 years, Edward E. “Sparky” Wilson Jr, whom she married on July 20, 1968; and who died on April 5, 2007; and her parents, Victor and Marguerite, nee McKinley, Morrison. Her brothers Victor R. (Fran), Gary L., Rick L. Morrison (Sue).
Surviving are her three daughters, Stacey (Rodney) Young of Richmond, TX, Stephanie (Randy) Burgess of Freeburg, IL and Shelby (Michael Cornehlsen) Wilson of Fenton, MO; 5 grandchildren, Mallory RubyGrace and Charley Young of Richmond, TX, Madeline, Sophia and Aury Babinsky of Freeburg, IL and her two sisters Pam Purkaple of Texico, IL and Marianne Morrison of Freeburg, IL and her beloved canine companion, Leo.
Memorials may be made to Jamie’s Animal Rescue (https://www.jamiesrescue.org/donate). Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, August 21, 2021, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Freeburg, IL. Standard CDC guidelines, including masks and social distancing, will be observed.
Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 21, 2021, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Freeburg, IL, with Rev. Pat Smoot officiating.
Burial will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Freeburg, IL.