Patricia Ileen (Handbury) St.Clair

Patricia Ileen (Handbury) St.Clair was born on March 1, 1931, the oldest of nine children for Homer and Olvena Handbury in Lakeview, Or. She departed this life and went home to be with her Jesus on May 16, 2022, at the age of 91.

Ileen grew up and graduated high school in Lakeview. At the age of 23, she met and married the love of her life, John (Alfred) St.Clair on August 8, 1954, in Reno, Nv. She and Alfred made their first home on a ranch just outside of New Pine Creek, Or. Ileen became a homemaker and a rancher’s wife, working beside her husband every day. They had ranches in Oregon and in Missouri. When Alfred retired in 1981, they settled in New Pine Creek, Or. where they lived until he passed away in 1998. In 2000, her daughters, Becki and Nancy, talked her into selling the house in New Pine Creek and moving to Texas to be with them. She lived in Anna, Tx with Becki and her family until 2015 and for the past seven years, she lived with Nancy in West Plains, Mo. In March of 2022, she was moved to the Lexington Medical Lodge in Farmersville, Tx where she made many friends and had an endless stream of visits from her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her great great grandson Karson until she passes away on May 16, 2022, with her daughter and son in law Becki and Dennis, and her granddaughter Robyn by her side.

Ileen was the center of our family, often called our “Rock Star” which she really was. She was as adventurous as the rest of us, and nobody ever left her behind. She was a virtuous woman and was cherished by her family and friends. She never met a stranger and was a friend to everyone she met. When she loved, she loved deeply. As her great-granddaughter, Faye Banner said, “I have never heard anyone say anything bad about Granny.” She never said anything bad about others either. She lived her life as an example of Christ within her. Always looking out for others and doing to serve them. She prayed daily for her family and friends, naming them one by one

From her union with Alfred, she is survived by three children: Leslie St.Clair and wife Delores, Daughters Nancy Fischer and husband Tedd, Rebecca (Becki) McKee-Cecil, and husband Dennis. Ten grandchildren: Leslie St.Clair Jr., Michael Taylor, John Armstrong, Matthew Matejka, Kristy Armstrong, James Taylor, Melissa St.Clair, Robyn Banner, Patricia (Petey) Enos, and Robert  (Robby) Taylor. She has 23 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Ileen is also survived by two bonus daughters: Barbara Means, and Connie Johannsen, two daughter-in-laws Marjorie St.Clair and Karen Paull. Eleven bonus grandchildren, 31 bonus great-grandchildren, more than 40 bonus great-great-grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, brothers Dave, Buck, and wife Judy, Don, and wife Charline Handbury, her sister Alice Genz, two sister-in-laws Jean and Sharon, and plus twelve nieces and nephews and numerous great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Alfred St.Clair, two granddaughters Melinda and Misty Lee St.Clair, two bonus sons Dwayne and Roger St.Clair, a bonus grandson Curtis Means, a bonus great-grandson Darrick Grimm, her parents, Homer and Olvena Handbury, three brother Glen, Allen, and Tom Handbury, and an infant sister Lois Jean Handbury.

The ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 51:11

There will be a funeral service for Ileen on June 11, 2022, at 2:00 PM at the New Pine Creek Baptist Church. The committal will be at the New Pine Creek Cemetery after the service.

Memorial contributions can be made in Ileen’s memory to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Desert Rose Funeral Chapel is overseeing the arrangements.  Condolences may be expressed, or the guest book signed online at www.desertrosefuneralchapel.com

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