Mary Sheffer

Mary Patricia "Pat" Sheffer passed away in the early morning of February 27, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. Pat, known as Trish to her family, was born September 22, 1940 in Morenci, Arizona, the daughter of Mary Lucille (Kelley) Patterson and Leonard Patterson.

She is survived by her son Scott Smerdon, daughter-in-law Beth Smerdon, granddaughter Ellison Smerdon, son Stephen Sheffer, daughter-in-law Jennifer Taylor, granddaughter Erin Sheffer, stepgrandsons Andrew and Daniel Taylor, sister Margaret Maurer, niece Katherine Maurer and her husband Graham Duncan, nephew Samuel Maurer and his wife Michelle Cunningham, and grand-nephew Kayson Maurer. She is preceded in death by her husband of 40 years Donald C. Sheffer, and by her parents.

Pat was raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She graduated from North Phoenix High School in 1958. Following graduation, she attended Arizona State University, married, and lived in Arizona and California. She married Donald C. Sheffer, who served in the Air Force and retired a Chief Master Sergeant, in 1969 and they followed his career, settling outside Kansas City, Missouri, in 1972 and remaining there until their retirement. Pat worked in the printing and sales industries in Kansas City. Following retirement, she moved with her husband to Bella Vista, Arkansas. Don passed away in 2008, and Pat lived in the area until her health declined in 2017.

Pat loved learning about history and science, particularly astronomy. She was an avid reader and lover of documentaries. She was a golfer and enjoyed many years playing regularly with friends and her husband Don. She loved clothes and was a tireless shopper, as well as seamstress who spent lots of time in her sewing room after retirement. She loved Christmas and decorated her home from floor to ceiling every year. She preferred a sports car and her last one was a bright green Mustang she called the Flying Pickle. She spoke her mind, and had a quick wit and irreverent, sometimes caustic, sense of humor. She will be missed by family, friends, and acquaintances alike.

Pat will be cremated and her life will be celebrated at a private memorial service.

Please join her family in sharing memories, photos and videos on her tribute wall at ww.sunsetfuneralhome.com

The family has entrusted Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Champaign, Illinois 710 N. Neil St. Champaign, Illinois with her arrangements.