Patricia Tarrant
Patricia Tarrant, 84, passed away on Thursday, September 25, 2026, leaving behind a family shaped by her strength, her unmistakable personality, and a lifetime of memories.
Born in Webb City, Missouri, Patricia called Webb City home for most of her life. It was there that she built her family, her career, and so many of the memories that would make up her story. For the last 10 years of her life, she made her home in Bella Vista, Arkansas.
Patricia was the matriarch of her family—a strong-willed woman who knew what she believed and was never afraid to tell you exactly what she thought. Throughout her life, she held many cherished roles: daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother. But at the foundation of them all, Patricia knew herself as a child of God. Each of these relationships became part of the story of a woman whose life touched generations of her family.
For 63 years, 1 month, and 2 days, Patricia shared her life with her husband, Steve. Together, they built a life and family that grew to include their son, Greg; their daughter, Stephnie; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. More than six decades of marriage held a lifetime of experiences—seasons of joy and hardship, change and growth, and countless memories shared along the way.
As a mother, Patricia always made sure her children were well dressed—a family memory perhaps best summed up as “Dad’s money, but Mom’s taste.” It was a fitting reflection of Patricia: she knew what she liked, had an eye for what looked good, and made sure her children looked good, too.
Professionally, Patricia spent her career serving as an office manager for medical offices. It was a role well suited to a woman with a strong personality, an ability to keep things in order, and no hesitation in speaking her mind.
Patricia lived a full and meaningful life. While her later years were marked by struggles with illness, those struggles were only one chapter of a much larger story. Before illness changed the course of her life, Patricia experienced many years filled with family, relationships, memories, and the joys and challenges that shaped the woman her loved ones knew.
Through the many seasons of Patricia’s life, one thing remained constant: her faith. Her relationship with Jesus Christ was a foundation she carried with her through both the brightest and most difficult chapters of her journey. When other parts of life changed, her faith remained.
Music also held a special place in Patricia’s life. Even on some of her most difficult days, she could find happiness in sitting with her family, listening to familiar songs, and remembering the life she had lived through the music she loved. Those moments gave her family glimpses of treasured memories and stories and, most importantly, an opportunity to simply be together.
Patricia found joy in life’s little pleasures. She loved to shop—and she could find a reason to shop for just about anything—with jewelry becoming a particular favorite in her later years. But she was equally touched by the simplest gestures from the people she loved. A dinner brought to her, a small gift chosen because someone thought she might like it, or a bouquet of flowers could bring her genuine happiness. She was quick to express her gratitude and had a way of making even a small act of kindness feel deeply appreciated.
Some of the memories her grandchildren treasure most are not necessarily the grand occasions, but the simple moments that became part of growing up with their grandmother. One remembers Patricia patiently teaching them how to tie their shoes. Another remembers going with her to see The Lion King in a movie theater for the very first time. She encouraged another grandchild’s love of music, always wanting to hear them play the piano, asking about choir, and telling them she believed they would someday find their place in entertainment.
Patricia proudly supported her eldest grandchild’s journey to becoming a doctor, a gift of encouragement that came full circle when she later trusted him with questions about her own health; he also remembers a childhood trip to Florida when Mema and Grandpa came to his rescue after he fell into a bumper-boat pool, helping him out of his soaking-wet clothes.
All of her grandchildren remember being called “honey.” It was a simple word of affection, but in Patricia’s voice, it became something uniquely hers. It is a memory her grandchildren have shared with one another for years and one they know they will continue to carry with them for years to come.
Patricia shared a particularly special relationship with her son-in-law, Roger. The two seemed to understand one another in a way that came naturally, perhaps because, as their family might say, they were more alike than they realized. Their similar personalities made for plenty of humor, but also created a connection and understanding between them that was uniquely their own.
Among the memories her family will hold especially close is a song Patricia sang to them for years, “I Love You a Bushel and a Peck.” What may have seemed like a simple song became something much more—a familiar reminder of Patricia’s love and a piece of her that her family will carry with them.
Patricia leaves behind her husband of more than 63 years, Steve; her son, Greg, and his wife, Wendy; her daughter, Stephnie, and her husband, Roger; her grandchildren, Zeke (Brooke), Madi, Kelby (Andrea), Lucas, Shayli (Alex), and Ryley; and her great-grandchildren, Xander, Lilly, Rhys, Aubrey, and Addalyn. She is also survived by her sister, Bernie, and her husband, Larry; her brother, Bill, and his wife, Kim; as well as nieces, nephews, and extended family who were also part of the life she built and the family she loved.
Patricia was preceded in death by her mother, Laura Bernadaine; her father, William Reginald; her brothers, George, Reggie, and Dave; and her sisters, Betty and Nelda Jo.
Patricia will be remembered not simply for the circumstances of her later years, but for the entirety of the life she lived—for her strength, her unmistakable personality, the family she helped build, the memories she shared, and above all, the faith she held onto throughout it all.
Her family says goodbye with the comfort of the faith Patricia carried throughout her life: that her identity as a child of God did not end with her final breath. Her story lives on through the
generations of family who carry pieces of her with them. There will be songs that bring her immediately to mind, flowers that remind them of how much she enjoyed receiving them, and moments when her grandchildren can almost hear her calling them “honey” again. And through all of those memories, they will always know that they were loved “a bushel and a peck.”
And perhaps the story of high school sweethearts Patricia and Steve, who have been together for more than 63 years, is best left in Steve’s own words:
“It was a good ride, and I would do it all over again.”
Funeral services for Patricia Tarrant of Bella Vista, formerly of Webb City, will be held on Monday, October 5, 2026 at 6:00PM at Royal Heights Methodist Church in Joplin with the family receiving friends for a time of visitation beginning at 5:00PM. Burial will be privately held at a later date at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery in Joplin. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Patricia to the Alzheimer’s Association and may be entrusted to Ozark Memorial Park or mailed to 225 N Michigan Ave. Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Ozark Memorial Park Crematory, Neosho.
