Patricia Welch

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Patricia Heady Welch, 75, of Vidalia, La., has gone to be with her Lord and Savior. She departed this world on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, in Vidalia. She was born June 1, 1937, to Joseph and Josephine Heady of Parma, Mo.

"Miss Pat" was known by many as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend.

Miss Pat was the voice on the loudspeaker for the Dixie Youth Baseball league for over 20 years. She loved the ballpark and all of her children. She also volunteered for many years at the Glenburney Nursing Home; where she visited with the ladies, fixed their hair and sang with them. She attended the First Baptist Church in Vidalia, and throughout the years she had 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 lifelong servant of the Lord and will be an angel for the Lord for the rest of her eternal life.

Survivors include her husband of 58 years, Mearl Welch of Vidalia; their four children, Rhonda (Gary) Cooper and Steve (Debbie) Welch, both of Advance and Brad (Annie) Welch of Vidalia and Bryan (Becky) Welch of Jackson; her grandchildren, Matthew, Jeremy and Christopher Welch, Nicole Andrews, Galen Cooper, Brandi Brown, Bradley Welch, Ryan and Carly Welch; great-grandchildren, Zobin, Zane, Emma, Drew and Braylin; sisters Betty Carawan of Seattle, Wash., and Chris Stout of Flint, Mich.; and too many nieces, nephews and friends to count.

She was preceded in death by her parents, seven sisters and three brothers.

Visitation will be held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Morgan Funeral Chapel in Advance. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Burial will follow at Morgan Memorial Park in Advance.