Patricia Carolyn (Carroll) Blackwell, age 88, of Warsaw, Missouri, passed away Friday, April 26, 2024, at her home. She was born on October 18, 1935, in Viola, Arkansas, the daughter of William Owlen and Vera Alberta (Floyd) Carroll. She attended Greenwood Grade School, in Viola where she walked through an underground street tunnel to school until the age of six when the family moved to Kansas City, Missouri during World War II.
At the age of 13, she gave her life to the Lord and became active in Youth for Christ at Kensington Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri. She later graduated from Central High School, in 1953 and earned a business degree from Kansas City Junior College.
Pat worked at a dime store and Hallmark Cards during high school. She also worked in the office of the Junior College she attended and the Sears & Roebuck Company for nine years making sales catalogs. On October 20, 1956 she was united in marriage to Tommy Roger Blackwell at Kensington Baptist Church. They made their home in Kansas City until 1964 when they moved to his hometown in Warsaw. In 1965 they adopted their son Patrick Kevin Blackwell and in 1968 they adopted their daughter Karla Susanne Szczygiel. Patricia and Tommy made their home on a farm on 83 Highway, where they raised their family and built their current Blue Branch home in 1976.
Pat worked for Kaysinger Bluff Dam Project from 1973 until she started working for Community Bank of Warsaw. She worked at the bank until her retirement in 2001. She also kept the books for the Benton County Producers auction and sale barn for many years.
Deeply committed to her faith and community, Patricia was actively involved in children's groups at First Baptist Church in Warsaw, Missouri, and later became a member of the United Methodist Church. She generously devoted her time to various organizations, including the Benton County Cancer Fund, the Benton Historical Society, Red Hats, and quilting circles.
In her leisure time, Patricia found joy in playing games, sewing quilts, and engaging with the Warsaw community. She was an avid traveler, exploring destinations near and far, including Australia, England, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Mexico, and throughout the United States.
Patricia is preceded in death by her parents, husband, and brother, Charles Cody Carroll.
She is survived by her brothers, Rex Carroll of Lee's Summit, MO, and Jerry Carroll of Sydney, Australia; her son, Patrick Kevin Blackwell of Kansas City, MO; her daughter, Karla Susanne (Blackwell) Szczygiel of Ottawa, Illinois; five grandchildren, Ashley (Johnson) Woods, of Earlville, Illinois, Courtney Johnson, of Earlville, Illinois, Kelsey (Johnson) Gupta, of Chicago, Illinois, Tom Blackwell, of Lawrence, Kansas and Dylan Szczygiel, of Ottawa, Illinois, eight great-grandchildren, Ryleigh, Carter, Peyton, Maddox, Lennox, Jackson, Theodore, and Charlotte.
Funeral Services for Patricia C. Blackwell will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, May 4, 2024 at the United Methodist Church in Warsaw. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. Interment will follow at the Shawnee Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Benton County Cancer Fund or the Benton County Hospice.
