Patty Lou White

A long-time Springfield, Illinois resident, Patty succumbed after a courageous fifteen-year battle with various conditions, which she faced with grace, playfulness, and faith.

Throughout her career(s), Patty made good friends with employers, colleagues, and clients. She was an esthetician, then worked in the medical area and retired from the Department of Corrections. She always had a smile and a teasing joke ready for any situation, bringing happiness and comfort to people. Patty was a lover of animals and plants. She had many wonderful dogs – big and small, including Shadow, who would escape and go for treats at the golf course, and the surviving Lucille Ball, her loyal companion for the last 17 years. It was a joy for every visitor to admire her plants and flowers and the seasonal decorations, always creative and colorful. Her love for hummingbirds was greatly reciprocated, as they would come to her feeders daily and provide her with immense joy (and stories). Patty and her ex-daughter-in-law, Debbie, had lots of fun at garage sales. Goodwill was also a favorite, where she found pleasure in the smallest findings for her or as gifts, which she loved to bestow. While working and bringing up kids, Patty found time to do amazing cooking and baking, decorate cakes, and work with stained glass. One of her pieces is hanging above the door of Galina Pizza in downtown Springfield. More recently, she made wreaths and painted with her neighbors at Serenity Manor, where she had many friends – Barb G., who was like a sister, another two Barbs, Martha, Steve and Joyce—to name a few. For many years, Patty was a member of Hope Presbyterian Church, where she was ordained as an elder. She deeply admired Pastor Chuck and enjoyed the friendship of many, including Sue Starrick, Sue Hack, and many members of her church family, especially the Thursday morning Bible Study that usually wound up in a local restaurant for lunch. Rightly so, she was known to be the life of the party.

As a young lady, Pat traveled all by herself to California, where she met her first husband, Pehr Markusson. They came back to Springfield, where Pat had John, Katrina, and her surviving children, Pamela Markusson, Phillip E. Markusson, and her stepdaughter, Mary (Pelich) Kelly. Patty was a positive influence and great joy to her grandkids, Amna Al-Zahrani and Sarah Al-Zahrani; Phillip C.J. Markusson and Bradley E. Markusson; and the Pelich kids – Michael, Iggy, Abby Poos, Nina and Gerard. She was delighted with her 2-year-old, great-grandchild, Wesley-James Dean Markusson. Patty was very happy she had the chance to travel to Germany and was able to live for a while in Saudi Arabia with her daughter’s family and visit Bahrain and Egypt.

Patty leaves behind her second husband, Steve White, who bought horses at her request and with whom she attended many auctions and went for good meals. They were always supportive of each other and stayed fast, good friends. She is also survived by her brother, Don Ackerman, along with his kids, Tricia Joy Cassady and Dough Ackerman in Austin, TX.

Patty was preceded in death by her father, John Ackerman; her mother, Irene Ackerman of Petersburg, IL; and her dearly missed children, John and Katrina. She is surely meeting her dear friend and sister-in-law, Barbara Ackerman, who left us two years ago…now they will again be able to talk for long hours and keep tabs on all of us.

Memorial Service: 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 30, 2021 at Boardman-Smith Funeral Home, 800 South Grand Ave. West, Springfield, with Reverend Chuck Goodman officiating. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be limited capacity. For those who wish to view the ceremony livestream, you may join us by clicking HERE at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 30, 2021.

Interment will follow at Camp Butler National Cemetery at 12:00 p.m.

The family requests that gifts in memory and honor of Patty White be directed to: Shriners Hospital for Children, Attn: Donations, 4400 Clayton Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63110 or Hope Presbyterian Church, 2211 Wabash Ave., Springfield, IL, 62704.