Obituary of Patty Jean Talley
Patty Jean Talley, age 87, of Moran, KS passed away the afternoon of October 21, 2016, at Meadowlark Hills, in Manhattan, KS, following a long illness. She was born, in Joplin, MO, November 13, 1928, the daughter of Mary Helen (Kemper) Cormack and Kirk Shackleford Cormack. Her parents divorced and Helen remarried later, to Arthur H. Brassfield. She was a graduate of Iola High School, where she was a Letter Girl. She married Robert C. "Bob" Talley, of Iola, KS, June 25, 1950, in Bentonville, AR. They had 3 children: Rick Lee, Claudia Lano and Gayle Lynn. The family moved to Moran, KS, when they purchased Talley Chevrolet, with Ellis Talley.
Patty was a homemaker, most of her child-rearing days. She was an accomplished cook and seamstress, keeping the pantry full, with her canned goods. She enjoyed the women's bowling league; was an accomplished painter, in water colors and tole painting; she also enjoyed ceramics, writing poetry, sketching, quilting and crocheting. She sold a great many carpet purses and grapevine wreaths she made. She sewed clothes, baby blankets & quilts, doll clothes, a 4' Raggedy Ann doll and made doll houses and a castle, for grandkids. She sewed wedding dresses, veils and ring pillows for Claudia and Taci; she hand-crafted every petal and rose, for Claudia's large bridal bouquet. If Patty saw or thought of something, she could make it and it would be beautiful. She and Bob frequented the dances, with their friends. She loved her pets, especially her cats. However, no animal was off-limits, in the Talley house. There was a pet skunk, raccoon, possum, turtle, Pigeon (that would hop around, following Patty and sit on the edge of her laundry basket), 2 rabbits, several dogs and several cats. Once she came upon an owl that was caught in a barbed wire fence. She pulled the car over and soothingly talked to the owl, as she worked its' wings loose, from the barbs, finally getting it free.
Over the years, Patty worked as a switchboard operator, at the Iola Telephone Company; a clerk at Roberson's Grocery Store, in Moran; an Avon Lady; a District Avon Representative; a clerk at Western Insurance, in Ft. Scott and she retired from her clerk's position, in the Pharmacy Department, of Walmart, in Iola.
Patty was a loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and friend; she frequently put herself out for the under-dog. She had a quick wit and was often hilarious; although, she could cut you with her sharp tongue, if you pushed her too far.
She is survived by her husband, Bob; son Rick Talley, Iola; daughters Gayle Talley, Wichita;Claudia Hobson (Leon), Manhattan and her children Shane Audley, KC, MO; Deandra Audley, KC, MO; Chad Hobson, Houston, TX; granddaughter Taci Sigg Fletcher (the favorite) and her children Logan, Noah, Seth and Isabelle, Troutville, VA; grandson Jesse Talley, TX and step-grandson Jeremy Breiner. She was preceded in death, by her mother, father, step-father and a great granddaughter, Hailey Fletcher.
A graveside service was held October 22nd, in the Moran cemetery. Memorials are suggested to The Homestead, 615 Gillespie Drive, Manhattan, KS 66502.