Patricia "Patty" Padgett

Patricia Ann Padgett, daughter of Thomas and Donna (Baker) Padgett, was born August 20, 1967, in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. She went to her home in Heaven on September 27, 2024, in Mountain Grove, Missouri. She was 57 years, 1 month, and 7 days of age.

From the time Patty was born, she was an overcomer. She wasn’t supposed to live past her mid-twenties. With severe Down syndrome, she was labeled by society. Those who viewed her as limited, missed seeing who Patty really was. She was defined by her caretakers as a “girly girl” who loved clothes, loved playing with her toys, and knew exactly what she wanted. Despite being nonverbal, she was fully capable of making her desires known and like all of us, did not like a change in her routine or being rushed.

With her Down’s, she was created physically different than most of us but it made us realize that perhaps our mindset of being created in God’s image is limited by our opinion or definition of what is God’s image or what we consider normal. What we see and label as a disability should actually make us consider how the situation is or can be used to reveal the works and glory of God. When we label or stereotype, we are missing or limiting God’s power or gift in our lives. Patty reminded us that God is free to do things that do not fit within the obvious confines or limits of our understanding of creation, life, and salvation. Patty was blessed to simply live in the moment. Our checklist of desirable human characteristics or traits did not define her. She lived without the struggle of social standings, society’s expectations, or the value of worldly things. She was born with a purpose, and perhaps that purpose was to simply show the rest of us how to live and love and how to look past our labels and see God’s image, love, grace, mercy, and teachable moments.

There is no doubt in our family that Patty has now been made new, whole, beautiful, and without blemish because God’s word assures us He will make all things new. Patty’s mother, Donna, possessed a great love for Patty. She never saw Patty as limited. She simply saw her daughter as a beautiful gift from God. There’s no way for us to measure the joyful reunion that Donna and Patty are experiencing now. Thank you, Patty, for showing us that the worth or value of someone should be the fact that we are human, not by any social standing or any particular set of talents, skills, powers, or possessions.

Patty was preceded in death by her mother, Donna; her maternal grandparents, Edwin and Betty Baker, and paternal grandparents, John and Ruth Padgett.

In memory of Patty, memorial contributions may be made to Arc of the Ozarks or Friendship Cemetery.