Patricia Lue Lyell

Patricia was born in Macon, Missouri, to Darrell and Ida Mae Washburn (née Gilchrist). She graduated from Shelbina High School and later earned her nursing degree from St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Kansas City, Missouri.

After completing nursing school, Patricia married the love of her life, John Edward Lyell, who was in the Air Force, where they lived in Bellevue, Nebraska. After an honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force, they moved to Kansas City and had two children, Edie and Kurt. John and Patricia shared fifty-six wonderful years of marriage.

While at St. Luke’s Nursing school, Patricia was roommates with Martha Kaeding. They became best friends and were inseparable. They attended nursing school together, both married men named John Edward, who were both in the military and famously gave birth to boys just two minutes apart at St. Luke’s Hospital — a story that made national headlines.

Patricia began her nursing career working for an ophthalmologist in Kansas City. In 1979, she and John relocated to Texas, where she spent several years as a dedicated homemaker before returning to the workforce with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, where she retired in 2007 after 26 years of service and made lifetime friends.

She had a servant’s heart and gave generously of her time. Patricia was an active volunteer with the Linus Organization, making quilts and blankets for babies, and she gave her time to Food for Families. She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church Richardson and especially cherished her time with the Ladies Living Stones’ Sunday school class.

Patricia was a woman of deep faith, strong will, and unwavering persistence. She had a passion for quilting, a love for reading, and never went anywhere without a list. She and John loved to travel, particularly to Kauai, Hawaii, where they vacationed often with family. Pat and John Edward traveled to India for their 50th wedding anniversary, and she fell in love with the country because of the kindness and friendliness of the people.

Patricia’s legacy lives on in the many lives she touched through her kindness, thoughtfulness, determination, and generosity.

She is survived by her husband, John Edward; children Edie and Kurt; grandchildren Kurt Lyell Jr. and Daniel Lyell; and her beloved dog Sweetie.

Patricia is preceded in death by her parents and her sister Joan.

She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.