Patricia Joyce Snethern was born to Loren and Loar Tharp on February 3, 1947, in Windsor, Illinois. She walked through the gates of Heaven, at the age of 78, on March 20, 2025, at 3:45 pm surrounded by family.
Her family moved to West Plains, Missouri when she was 5 years old, and started her formal education at the Elk Creek one-room schoolhouse. She graduated from West Plains High School in 1965. She married her high school sweetheart Jerry Snethern on October 14, 1967, in West Plains, Missouri. To this union were added two children, four grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
Her career started at the local dry cleaners in West Plains, Missouri. From there, she progressed to working at the shoe factory, then worked for Frank Hall, founder of South Howell County Ambulance Service as an EMT. She founded her career at Marathon Electric where she devoted 25 years of her life until she retired in 2002. Following her retirement, Joyce and Jerry moved to Birch Tree to be closer to their family and create the yard of her dreams!
Joyce was involved in church from an early age where she performed many impacting roles. She was a Sunday school teacher, and children’s church leader, and worked with the bus ministry. Her passion was being a musician and singer. Her hobbies included cake making, sewing dresses, tending to her yard, flowers, and garden. She enjoyed playing piano and singing. Her most recent pastime was quilting with her sister Verna Murphy. What she valued the most was spending time with her grandchildren and family.
She is survived by two children, Melvin and wife Colleen Snethern of West Plains, MO, Belva and husband Gary VaLeu of Mountain View, MO; four grandchildren, Brittney and husband Sergio Ronzani of Peace Valley, MO, Elizabeth and husband Floyd Baxter of Campbell, MO, William and wife Ruby Snethern of Thayer, MO, Whittney and husband David Drumright of West Plains, MO; nine great-grandchildren, Sophie, Jade, Wyatt, Zilynn, Kaleigh, Zinlee, Gracyn, Caroline, and Conner; siblings, Elaine Redburn, Charles Tharp, Freddy “Short” Tharp, Verna May Murphy, Shirley Holden, Gary Tharp, Jerry Tharp, Keith Tharp, and one special brother-in-law JB Snethern.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry; her parents, Loren and Loar Tharp; five brothers, Edward, Terry, Larry “Dick”, Jim, and Gerald Dean Tharp; two sisters, Betty Maxine Tedder, and Lela Kay Tharp; several brothers and sisters-in-law; and multiple nieces and nephews.
She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and her church.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Church of God of Prophecy, Montier, Missouri, with Rev. Tom Wiggs and Rev. Vic Elliott officiating. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at Yarber Mortuary, Mountain View. Interment will be in Oak Forest Cemetery, Birch Tree. Condolences may be expressed at www.yarbermortuary.com.
