Pat Shank

Patricia R. Shank, age 93, of Joplin passed away Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at her home. She was born June 24,1930 in Shawnee, Oklahoma to Vernon and Pearl (Grimm) Tucker.

Pat grew up in Pea Ridge, AR and Anderson, MO, graduating from McDonald County High School in 1949. She received vocal training at the University of Arkansas and earned a nursing degree from St John’s School of Nursing in 1952. 

She dearly loved being an RN and was truly the quintessential nurse all of her life. She attended her first surgery at 8 years old in the operating room of her beloved uncle, who was a surgeon and her inspiration. Surgery was her love. Caring for her patients and their families was her passion and calling. 

In 1959, she took an 18 year break from working as a nurse to follow her heart’s desire as a full time mother. At that time, she became the nurse on call to everyone in her life, giving advice and support though medical issues and always at the bedside of everyone she cared about, especially when surgery was needed, simultaneously informing and comforting family members of the patient. Her hugs and her encouragement were well known, healing and inspiring. 

She was always very involved in her children’s lives, serving in the PTA and as a Girl Scout Leader. She never missed an event her children participated in, even after they were adults and lived out of state. It was her very special honor to serve on the Board of Directors of the Missouri Baptist Children's Home from 1971 through 1975. 

Pat returned to work in full-time nursing in 1980 and helped establish Pre-Op Holding at Freeman Hospital. It was the best of both worlds for her, being able to prepare patients for surgery, and soothe any fears with her loving spirit. 

When she finally retired she became a Freeman Volunteer at the Surgery Waiting Desk and continued her work from there for many more years. It kept her precious servant’s heart full and gave her great joy. 

Pat also dearly loved to use her beautifully trained soprano voice to sing – as a choir member and a soloist at Fellowship Baptist Church and with the MSSU Choral Society. She was also a huge supporter of the Coda Concert House and loved the unique ability to intimately enjoy the work of talented musicians and share her love of music with them one on one. 

On November 2, 1952, Patricia R. Tucker married Marvin L. Shank in Anderson, Missouri. He preceded her in death in 2006. 

Survivors include her son, Merrill Shank and wife, Suzie; her daughter, Cheryl Morrow; a brother-in-law, Charles Shank and wife, Gloria, all of Joplin, a brother-in-law, Dwain Shank of Grove, Oklahoma, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, a host of loved ones, including lifelong friends, those she called her “other” sons and daughters two very special bonus “grand-loves”, Hayden Morrow and Jaxson Kuhn, and a litany of people she called her “angels” that made every day brighter for her as she grew older and her world grew smaller, especially through the Covid years. 

In addition to her husband, she was also preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Betty Jo Tucker, and a sister and brother-in-law, Norma and Roger Hankins.

 

The family will receive friends at 10AM Saturday, November 18, at Fellowship Baptist Church. Funeral services will follow with Rev. Rex Wakefield and Steve Morrow officiating. Interment will be a private family gathering at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Fellowship Baptist Church Music Department or MSSU Choral Society.

The family would like to offer our deepest thanks to Dr Leslie Hamlett, Dr. Robert Stauffer, and Dr. Samuel K Turner and his entire staff for their loving and exquisite care of our beloved Mother. They gave us many bonus happy years with her and precious treasured last moments.