Lloyd Pence

(From Ferry Funeral Home)

Lloyd Allen Pence, 86 of Nevada and formerly of Schell City passed away at his home on Saturday August 5, 2023 in Nevada. Lloyd was born on July 14, 1937 in Winchester, Illinois to Harry Lee and Florence Elizabeth (Christison) Pence where he grew up with 11 siblings. 

He was drafted into the US Army in 1959 and completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He was then transferred to the 332nd Quartermaster Battalion in Frankfurt, Germany and was honorably discharged, and returned home a proud veteran in 1961. 

To this day, it was rare to see Lloyd without his Veteran’s cap. He was always giving you a good morning greeting in German, and still says he would do it all over again. Lloyd worked in Mississippi for 2 years before moving to Schell City, MO in 1963 to work for Albert and Richard Coultas managing the 4400 acre Cressup Ranch. 

Schell City is also where he met the love of his life, Sandy Sue Sanderson. Rumor has it, it was the “shorty shorts” that did him in! They were married in the First Baptist Church of Schell City on Sept 13, 1964 where they are still members today. Lloyd remained at the Cressup Ranch until it changed hands, but returned again when it was purchased by CBK Industries and remained there until 1978 when it was sold. He continued to farm for others, Jerry Chitty of Butler, MO and Horace Johnson of Nevada, MO. 

He then began working construction at the old Saint Francis Convent in Nevada converting it into Raphael Center (now Heartland Behavioral Health Services). When it was completed he was hired on in the maintenance department where he spent 28 years retiring in 2010. 

Lloyd was always a family man willing to do anything for his kids and wife. (Even when we didn’t deserve it…some of us may have been a little ornery at times…we got that from him). He loved telling jokes and his laugh was contagious. He would come home from work telling of pranks he had pulled on the guys, laughing til he cried. His genes ran strong, more often than not, when we kids would stir up trouble, mom would say, “YOUR son” or “YOUR daughter”…somehow we were his fault and secretly he was proud of that. 

Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents, 5 sisters, 3 brothers, and one son-in-law, Jamie Alexander. 

Lloyd is survived by his wife, Sandra of the home, one son, Ron Pence of Walker, MO, three daughters, Patti Alexander (Calvin Keith) of Nevada, Becky Cisco (Jim) of Lamar, MO and Angie Pence (Angie Ratliff), Nevada, eight grandchildren, Shawna Eby (Nathan), Jerrod Alexander (Katie), Andrea Thomas (Rusty), Kendra Little (David), all of Nevada, Geoffry Cisco (Stephanie) Wentzville, MO, Ethan Fast (Nancy), Carthage, MO, Trevor Fast (Tera), Lamar, MO, and Rodes Ratliff (Emily Nealey), Redfield, IA, twenty-four great-grandchildren, three sisters, Betty Nelson of Bethalto, IL, Mary Harshman, Rockport, IL, Rosemary Miller, Concord, IL, and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Funeral services for Lloyd will be held at 10:30 am on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 in the Schell City Baptist Church with Pastor Doug Reynolds officiating. Interment with Military Funeral Honors will follow in the Greenlawn Cemetery, Schell City. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, August 7 at the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home, Schell City. 

Those who wish may contribute in Lloyd’s memory to the Disabled American Veterans c/o the funeral home.