Patricia S. "Pat" Mcevoy

Patricia ("Pat") S McEvoy, age 81, of Cottleville, Missouri, passed away on March 31, 2024 at her son and daughter in law’s home in St. Louis. She was born on December 9, 1942 in Aurora, Illinois to the late Irene (Siedelman) and Francis P. Murphy. She went to Madonna High School. After High School she met her husband James (“Jim”) McEvoy at a party on a boat when Pat was 19. They were married on August 4, 1962 in Aurora, Illinois. For their honeymoon, Jim actually brought his mother. Something Pat reminded the entire family of often. Eventually she made him take her to Hawaii to make up for it several years later.

They moved to St Louis, Missouri not long after so Jim could work at his father’s chemical company. They lived in Florissant for 34 years where they raised their three boys and several exchange students before moving to Cottleville in 1998 where they spoiled their 7 grandkids. “Granny” would make them their favorite foods and would ALWAYS take them shopping. The kids loved spending the night with Granny. No matter the age she would do what they wanted to do. Sitting on the floor when they were little playing or shopping at the mall when teenagers or drinking a cocktail or 2 with college aged kids. She did it all because she loved nothing more than spending time with them.

Pat was adamant about living independent despite having memory and health issues. The compromise was coming to one of her son’s homes but “certainly not forever, just until she got back on track.” She died peacefully in the early Easter morning, just a few hours after having 6 grandkids in bed with her before going to sleep for the night.

Pat had the gift to gab like a true politician. Rarely could you get a word in when talking to her. Often you could set the phone down, cut the lawn or clean the pool and come back and she would still be going. Which is why she was not satisfied being a stay home mom. What started as a room mom for Shawn’s first grade class led to the PTA. That led to becoming PTA Council President. She started the first ever Hazelwood Run/Walk to raise money for PTA scholarships. She then ran for the School Board of the Hazelwood School District. She spent 19 years on the Board winning 6 reelections. No one ever came close to beating her after her first term. She also spear-headed the first ever Hazelwood Central graduation night lock-in in 1987. She had a huge impact on the Hazelwood School District and many of the kids that went there.

Pat was also a loyal Shriner lady. Having spent over 50 years active with her husband and then continuing after his death with her sons’ involvement. She was known to work hard always at the fund raisers and events. She had no issues rolling up her sleeves and doing whatever it took to get the job done. Her age never slowed her down when working at a Shriner event. It was something that Mom and Dad just liked to do together.

Pat was an avid shopper. We knew that the first-time mom turned down a shopping trip, it meant the end of life was coming. By the way, that was just a few weeks ago. If shopping was an Olympic Sport, Pat would have been the Michael Phelps of shopping. Hall of fame level stuff for sure. And with a husband that was as cheap as they come, she gave him hives when the credit card bill showed up. In fact, she knew he would freak out so she would have us kids intercept the credit card bill and put it in our sock drawers when we got home from school so he would not see what was on it (he never used it). No one was too old for presents. Every son, daughter-in-law and grandkid had to have at least 15 packages to open on Christmas day. There would be 15 of us in one room with 15 gifts each. Jim would just roll his eyes. But she rarely bought things for herself, it was always for the rest of us.

Pat loved to go to all of the grandkids sporting events. No matter what the weather. Rain, sleet, or snow, Granny would be there on the sideline cheering, often times for someone else’s kid because she could not make out the jersey numbers. But she yelled anyway.

Pat vacuumed carpet like it was nobody’s business. She could have been a spokesperson for Dirt Devil. Those rugs sometimes had to go through 2 a days. The whole house got vacuumed whether someone went into a room that day or not. Jim almost had her committed over it. But the good news is that Heaven is not going to have a single dirty carpet going forward. Pat has St. Peter’s “Dirt Angel” vacuum running 24/7 at this point. She will be missed by many including all of our friends whom called her Mama Mac, because she treated them like her own. She was an absolutely amazing mother, grandmother, aunt and friend. A “Real Stand-Up Broad” (what she wanted put on her urn).

She is survived by a whole clan of people she loved. Her three sons James Shawn (Lori) McEvoy, Shannon Patrick (Amy) McEvoy, and Kyle Lee (Kerry) McEvoy, and seven grandchildren Rachel Brown, Kaitlin (Dan) Stopka, Gavin, Kiergan, Jake, Killian, and Evan McEvoy; great grandchildren Madison, Jayden, Harper, and Baker; nieces and nephews Bridget (Kevin) Didier, Tara (Tom) Sutherland, Todd Roscoe, and Craig (Lizzie) Roscoe. And of course her Danish exchange student son Janus (Marianne) Kyhl and great friends Sue and Sharon.

A celebration of life will be held on June 8, 2024, 1-4 pm at Glen Echo Country Club: 3401 Lucas and Hunt Rd. St. Louis, MO 63121.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Shriners Hospital for Children-St. Louis in the name of Pat McEvoy. We have arranged a memorial fund to contribute to in her name.

Online:
https://donate.lovetotherescue.org/fundraiser/3163448

By Mail:
Shriners Hospital for Children-St. Louis
Attention: Development
4400 Clayton Road
St. Louis, MO 63110

Payee: Shriners Hospital for Children-St. Louis
Memo Line of Check: Pat McEvoy Memorial Fund

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