Patricia Sleade's Obituary
Pat Sleade of Decatur, Illinois, passed away, September 8, 2025, at home. She was 87.
She was born Patricia Lou Stover in Bonne Terre, Missouri, to Warren and Hazel (Dieterich) Stover. She enjoyed telling stories about growing up in Farmington with her older sister, Margie (Tippett), who she adored. She married Douglas Sleade, June 8, 1957. Their marriage lasted for 67 years. All preceded her in death.
She graduated from Miss Hickey’s School for Secretaries in St. Louis. She put her secretarial skills to work for the Moberly Schools Superintendents office and the Illinois Heart Association. She truly found her work home at Millikin University. She served in the Development Office, Career Development and Placement, for Dean Joseph Houston, and spent her last years in the Athletic Department. She enjoyed her fellow staff members, students and especially her student workers. On hearing of her passing, one student said, “Pat was the Mom we all needed at Millikin as we first left home on our own. We should all be so lucky to have had such a lasting impact on so many people.”
Many happy hours were spent with her friends including co-workers from Millikin, her church coffee group, and most recently her friends at Imboden Creek Gardens.
She will be missed by her daughters, Karen Henington (Jessie), Laura Sleade (Ed Hawkes), and Cheryl Brookhouzen (Corey) and her grandchildren: Greg Henington (Jennifer), Matt Henington (Kaycie), Lindsay Sleade, and Clint Henington (Halle Shearer). She dearly loved her great-grandchildren: Reese, Raelyn, Jacob, Brennan, Sariah, and Amira. She enjoyed a close relationship with nieces, Sally Rains and Barb Tippett.
Pat was an avid knitter, reader, and jigsaw puzzle worker and volunteered at the Blood Bank.
Her family is greatly appreciative of the caring staff and residents at Imboden Creek Gardens.
Pat believed in finding the good in people and lived a life of kindness. In her honor, please say something thoughtful and kind to someone today.
The Funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday (09-22-2025) at Graceland Fairlawn Funeral Home with visitation one hour prior to the service. The burial will be at Boiling Springs Cemetery.
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family in care of Graceland Fairlawn Funeral Homes https://www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
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