Patsy Jean Meachum

Published 11:12 am Thursday, October 17, 2024

December 22, 1932 – October 13, 2024

Patsy Jean Meachum, age 91, passed peacefully on 13 October 2024 at White Oaks Assisted Living in Lawton, MI. She was born 22 December 1932 in South Bend, IN, to Norbert Patrick & Virginia (Wishman) Moran.

She was a graduate of Shortridge High School in Indianapolis, IN; Ball State University; Michigan State University; and Western Michigan University.

Patsy started her teaching career in Dowagiac, Michigan, in 1955, after graduating from Ball State. She would meet Jim Meachum on Dewey Lake, where her father had a summer cottage.

Jim was the owner of a horse riding stable, earning money to go to college. On 29 October 1955, she married Henry James Meachum III, while they were in East Lansing. Two years later, they would graduate together from MSU; she with an MA, and he with a DVM. After their graduation, they moved to Hartford but returned to Dewey Lake in the summers.

With Jim by her side, she would teach in Hartford, in Lawrence at the Intermediate School District as a reading specialist, Dowagiac, Sister Lakes, as well as Broward County and Dade counties in Florida. She would also serve as President of the American Veterinary Association Auxillary in the 1960s and accompany her husband to veterinary events.

Jim and Patsy were avid supporters of Michigan State University and held season football tickets for 70 years. We always knew where they were on Saturdays in the fall. On Sundays, they were lifetime members of the Hartford United Methodist Church, where Jim had been a member since birth.

They also attended the Sabino Canyon United Methodist Church during the 15 years they lived near Tucson, AZ. She enjoyed knitting in her free time. 

Patsy was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, who died in 2016, and her parents.

She is survived by four children: Virginia of Paw Paw, Henry (Jim) of Almena, Patti Jo (Denis) Huffman of Hartford, and Daniel.

She also has a sister, Doris Fulton, of St. Clair, MI; 4 grandchildren: Jami ( Jon) Mabb of Hillsborough, NC, Tom Leibering of Kendall Park, NJ, Alyssa (Matt) VanAken of Almena, MI, and Miranda ( Jake) Yohn of Cary, IL; and 3 great grandchildren: Bryar VanAken, Gable VanAken, and Nora Yohn.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, 22 Oct 2024, at the Hartford United Methodist Church in Hartford, MI, at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hartford United Methodist Church. At a later date, the family will have their ashes interred together at Maple Hill Cemetery in Hartford, Michigan.