June 1, 1937 – Dec. 5, 2012

VIDALIA — Memorial services for Patricia Heady Welch, 75, of Vidalia, who went to be with the Lord and Savior, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church of Vidalia. Everyone who knew her is invited to attend.

Burial services were 1 p.m., Monday, Dec. 10, 2012, in Advance, Mo.

Arrangements are under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home in Vidalia.

Mrs. Welch was born June 1, 1937, the daughter of Joseph and Josephine Heady of Parma, Mo. She was a lifelong servant of the Lord and will be an angel for the Lord for her eternal life.

“Miss Pat,” as she was known by many, was the voice of the loudspeaker for the Dixie Youth Baseball League for more than 20 years. She loved to be at the ballpark with all the kids. She also volunteered at Glenburney Nursing Home for a number of years, where she visited with the folks, sang and fixed the ladies’ hair.

Mrs. Welch attended First Baptist Church in Vidalia and through the years taught countless children about Jesus, this was her passion. She was truly a remarkable woman and will be missed by all who knew her.

She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend.

Mrs. Welch was preceded in death by her parents; seven sisters; and three brothers.

Survivors include her husband of 58 years, Mearl Welch; one daughter, Rhonda Cooper and husband, Gary, of Advance; three sons, Steve Welch and wife, Debbie, of Advance, Brad Welch and wife, Annie, of Vidalia and Bryan Welch and wife, Becky, of Jackson, Mo.; nine grandchildren, Nicole, Galen, Matthew, Jeremy, Christopher, Brandi, Bradley, Ryan and Carly; five great-grandchildren, Zebin, Zane, Emma, Drew and Braylin; two sisters, Betty Carawan of Seattle, Wash., and Chris Stout of Flint, Mich.; and too many nieces, nephews and friends to count.