1927-2025
Patsy Lou Steadham passed away late Friday night, December 12, 2025, in her apartment at Cumbernauld Village in Winfield, Kansas. She was 98 years old.
Patsy was born March 5, 1927, in El Dorado, Kansas. She was the daughter of Burke and Audrian (Lichlyter) Smith. Patsy was a very talented lady. She could paint, draw, sew, decorate anything, and sing. Her faith was very dear to her. She and Harold were loyal members at Winfield First Christian Church when it was up and going as well as in every town they ever lived in, church was first.
Patsy Lou was married to the love of her life, Harold Steadham, on February 1, 1948. They were married for 72 years before he preceded her in death on April 9, 2020. We all would have loved to see that reunion at the Pearly Gates on Friday night. Their first home was in Wichita, Kansas, in the Oaklawn neighborhood. Harold was studying medical technology at Wichita State University, and Patsy worked nights as a switchboard operator at Southwestern Bell. After Harold graduated from WSU and the birth of their first two children, they moved to Winfield where Harold worked as a medical technologist at St. Mary’s Hospital. While living in Winfield, Harold started school at Washington University in St. Louis, studying healthcare administration and continued working weekends at St. Mary’s Hospital in Winfield. Patsy was a homemaker in Winfield during this time while Harold commuted to St. Louis. After finishing school in 1955 at Washington University, the family moved to Florida where Harold accepted an administrative residency at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, Florida. In 1957, Harold, Patsy, and their four children moved to West Point, Georgia, where Harold was the administrator of George H. Lanier Memorial Hospital. In West Point, Harold and Patsy established lifelong friends with Mr. H.E. & Ms. Caroline Steele and Mr. Cam & Ms. Sidney Lainer and Mr. Don & Ms. Ruth Downs. In 1969, they moved back to Winfield to be closer to family when Harold was named administrator of William Newton Memorial Hospital.
Patsy was a wonderful and fun mother. She made up personal songs for all her children and loved to sing their songs loud enough for everyone in the house to hear. She worked tirelessly on dance costumes and scenery for many dance recitals and various other events. Once Harold bought her a collection of pastel nail polish. Rather than painting all her nails in one color, Patsy painted each finger a different color. It became her signature style. She was a member of Sweet Adelines and an active and enthusiastic member of the Winfield Chapter. Her life was filled with music.
She was at every sporting event her children were in. Later, Golly and Papaw hosted many holiday gatherings creating countless memories of Golly and Papaw at their wonderful home at 1104 E 9th. She loved her grandchildren so much. She would sing to them and was good at getting them to sleep.
Patsy worked with Wayne and Harold at Winfield Floral. Without any training, Patsy’s artistic talents shined through, and she became an accomplished floral designer.
Patsy was the mother to Harold Wayne (Diane), Liza Ben Vaughn, Mark Brendan (Debbie), and Sally Jo Butters. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and four great great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by Harold, her father Burke, mother Audrian, two sisters, Joan Fox and Sally Carnahan, two sons-in-law, David Vaughn and Steven Butters.
The family would like to thank all the caregivers for Patsy and a huge shout of thanks to Wayne and Diane Steadham.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M., on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at Miles Funeral Service in Winfield. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. A visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday from 4 to 8 P.M. The family will greet visitors from 4 to 6 that evening.
