Patsy Montez Tatum

Patsy Montez Tatum, 71, a resident of McKenzie, Alabama, passed away peacefully at Regional Medical Center of Central Alabama in Greenville on Wednesday, September 18th, 2024. Funeral services for Patsy will be held at 2 PM on Saturday, September 21st, from the Chapel of Turners Funeral Home with James Reeves and Darrell Sanders delivering eulogies. Interment will follow in Pleasant Home Cemetery with Turners Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday for one hour prior to the service.

In her free time, Patsy loved singing and dancing to some of her favorite songs, or really just anything with a good beat! She didn't sleep on good yard sales either. It didn't matter if it was 3 hours away, she was willing to travel to see what great finds or deals they had. Maybe that's also why she enjoyed a good game of chance now and again, that special thrill likely helped keep her young. And boy, was she always a wiz in the kitchen. There was nothing she couldn't whip up that didn't have the crowds clamoring for more, especially when it came to homemade dressing and chicken & dumplings. It's no wonder she always had both a full house and a full heart!

Patsy was affectionately known to absolutely everyone as "Nanny Pat." Why? Because, not only did she raise her own children and grandchildren, but also basically every other child who ever spent time in her home (and those are too numerous to count!). Her innate happy, go-lucky spirit was truly infectious and those she loved could only bask in the warmth of her unconditional love and support throughout the years. It's not hard to understand why they all enjoyed spending so much time with her when she was the rare person who held on to her youthful spirit despite how many birthdays she had. She took an interest in the things they were interested in, whether it was fishing or rap music, she was game for anything they wanted to do. That is a magnificent quality in any person, but especially a grandmother who always made you feel at home in her presence. That is one kind of incredible legacy of love, understanding, and support to leave behind. It will keep her memory alive within all those who knew and loved her for many more years to come.

Patsy was preceded in death by her parents, Jessie James "Mutt" & Dora Evon Pitts Reeves, and brother, Raymond Phillips. She is survived by her children, Billy (Dora) Smith, Evonnie (Mike) Mims, Michael Smith, and Mary Tatum; grandchildren, Cody (Hagen) House, Jody (Bethany) House, Chance (Taylor) House, Brandi (Corey) Jordan, Jessica (Dusty) White, Megan (Richard) Lewis, Amber (Anthony) Taylor, Christopher Smith, Brayden Smith, Stinson Smith, Amy Tillery, Nikki Boggan, Amy Smith, Kimberly (Adrian) Rich, Billie Smith, and Rainey Smith; siblings, James Reeves, Jim Reeves, and Emmitt Reeves; and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

Active pallbearers will be Cody House, Jody House, Chance House, Talan Lewis, Billy Paul Smith, and Jeremy Gee. Honorary pallbearers will be David Boggan, Wyatt Wright, and Charles Adams.