Patricia G Reed

Born February 5, 1951 in Nashville, Tennessee, she was the daughter of Herman and Marjorie (Taylor) Dickey. She married Rocky Chumley in 1978. He survives.

Also surviving are two daughters, Jennifer Wallis-Drake of Paw Paw, Michigan and Annette Overton of Fort Collins, Colorado; seven grandchildren, Ryan, Samantha, Brody, Stephanie, Rebecca, Steven, and Suzanna; two great-grandchildren, Nevaeh and Gracie; her father, Herman Dickey of Peoria; one sister, Janis (Roger) Smith of East Peoria; and one niece, Jamie Smith of Canada.

She was preceded in death by her mother; one son, Jeremy Wallis; one grandson, Shannon Whitecotton; and one nephew, Michael Smith.

Pat was a certified graphologist, published writer, and artist.

Per her wishes, there will be no services and cremation will be accorded.

Arrangements are by Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.

To express condolences online, www.preston-hanley.com

Once upon a spring… A small green bud burst forth…Upon a Tall Oak Tree.

So small…one could scarcely see the excitement contained inside this tiny thing.

But the robin knew…and, he began to sing. He sang so loudly, the bud quivered all the more…

Til one day he shook himself loose from his protective shell. And a bright green leaf emerged.

Look at me! Look at me! He waved and yelled.

“I’M A LEAF!”

As he swayed to and fro he discovered there were other leaves on the tree.

“Oh my goodness!” he exclaimed,

“They look just like me!” And he knew that he Belonged.

Then the storms came. Streaks of light upon dark night flashed across the sky.

The wind shrieked and howled and blew against his face…

bending low the branch that one had been his quiet and safe place.

He wanted to cry, but he couldn’t cry ‘cause the raindrops falling down his back were all he had for tears.

He just held on…not knowing why…as he watched other leaves fall to the ground,

Which seemed so far away to him…for the first time…He looked Down.

When the sun came out and the sky turned back to blue Oh Heavy Sigh…

He wished he didn’t know what he thought he knew.

Even in the calm…he held on…Tightly Clinging…Vowing…I won’t let go! I won’t he cried.

Then came the cold. And something really strange.

He turned a different color; and all the leaves around him were a different color too.

For the first time…he knew Change.

Wow! He exclaimed, How beautiful I’ve become…Look at me! Look what I’ve gone and done.

When he turned to see if others noticed him…leaves were scurrying by. One fell past him…and then another

Follow the Way! They cried.

I can’t hear you, he said. What’d you say? The shouted back The Way! The Way! Down there…

The whistling of the wind grew louder…and soon…the tree was bare.

Except for One…for the first time he knew Alone.

“Well” he said, “that’s ok, I don’t need them anyway”…Besides he didn’t dare follow where they had gone.

It was way too far…he’d have to let go…he didn’t think he could.

For the first time…He knew Doubt.

The tree shivered and shook and it took all he had to hold on. “I can’t”, he cried. “No No No”.

But the wind proved stronger that he So he finally gave in and Let go!

Then a wonderful thing happened on his way to the fresh fallen snow on the ground…He began to dance…

He danced and He danced and He danced…all the way down. For the first time he knew Freedom…

Well, he said that wasn’t so bad…And he wasn’t Alone…He wasn’t Angry or Sad.

He was just Happy…to be free of himself…for the first time he knew Peace.

Then…

Once upon a spring…a small green bud burst forth…Upon a Tall Oak Tree…