Patricia Mueller

Patricia J. Pratt Mueller, 80, of St. Louis died Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, at Dammert Geriatric Center at the Shrine of the Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Ill. Family members were at her side.

She was born Dec. 8, 1930, in St. Louis. She grew up in Cape Girardeau.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Patricia taught fifth grade in Perryville, Mo., and her husband, Harvey Mueller, led the Perryville High School marching band and jazz band. Then she went on to teach special education in Belleville and later served as assistant director of Belleville Area Special Education District many years.

Patricia was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey Mueller, who died Aug. 16, 1980; her parents, Daniel Russell and Josephine Osbourne Pratt; and a sister, Mary Jo Ludwig Kaempfer Moxey of Cape Girardeau. She was also preceded in death by her longtime companion (after the death of her husband) and adopted grandfather to her grandchildren, Wray Shultz, who died Sept. 13, 2010.

Survivors include a daughter, Laurie Mueller-Bevirt; twin grandchildren, Taylor and Brittany Bevirt of Belleville; a brother, John Pratt, Ph.D., of Tumwater, Wash.; a niece, Drew Pratt Reineke of Columbia, Mo.; two nephews, Geoff Pratt of Olympia, Wash., and Tim Ludwig of Springfield, Mo.; three cousins, Frank Turley of Santa Fe, N.M., Sue Turley of Freeland, Mich., and Robert Turley of Redlands, Calif.

Patricia's hobbies in retirement included creative writing, reading, constantly learning, making people laugh with her witty sense of humor and bragging on her grandchildren, Taylor and Brittany.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to service time Oct. 29 at Piper Palm House in Tower Grove Park, St. Louis.

A memorial service will follow at 10:30 a.m. at the same location. Attendees will be given the opportunity to share a few words or stories about Pat if they so choose.

Kalmer Memorial Services of Lebanon, Ill., is in charge of arrangements.

See a biography of Patricia and post favorite memories of her at www.memorialwebsites.legacy.com/PatPrattMueller.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois at www.hospice.org or the American Association of University Women at www.aauw.org.