Patricia Sears

On December 31, 2025, Patricia A. Sears, 80, of Nixa, MO, peacefully left this world surrounded by her children and grandchildren after a long-term illness. Patricia was born on November 7, 1945, in Norwood, Massachusetts, to Jacques and Josephine (McGourty) Nardin. She graduated in 1963 from Lincoln High School in San Diego, California and just after graduating, she drove across the country to Springfield, Missouri, to join the rest of her family, who had been living there for a year.

She worked at Taylor’s Drive-In in downtown Springfield as a roller-skating carhop, where she met her first husband. From that union, they had a daughter, Melissa. Later in life, she married David Sears on April 6, 1979. To this union, they added a son, Michael. Pat and David were married for 43 years before his passing in March 2022.

Pat and David loved all things NASCAR. They watched every race, had favorite drivers, and collected enough memorabilia that they dedicated an entire room to NASCAR, including a Christmas tree filled with NASCAR ornaments. She loved to decorate for the holidays, especially Christmas. Her entire home would be transformed into a Christmas winter wonderland. Her trees were so meticulously decorated that everyone who visited was in awe of them. Each year, she would add to the collection.

She was known for her sense of humor and excellent work ethic, spending over 30 years at Kraft Foods in Springfield, MO, before retiring in 2008 to become a full-time grandma.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, one sister and her husband, David. She is survived by her daughter, Melissa Ghan, and husband Jon of Republic, MO; son, Michael Sears, and wife Jamie of Nixa, MO; grandchildren Alexandra Cameron and husband Owen of Springfield, MO; Dalton Ghan of Republic, MO; and Myli Sears and Maison Sears of Nixa, MO. She also leaves two sisters, June Heilpap & Laura Nardin.

The family would like to thank Integrity Hospice for the kind and compassionate care they gave to Pat over the past six months.

A memorial service will be held Friday, January 9, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Ozark General Baptist Church, Ozark, MO. In burial she will join her husband at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery.

Cremation rites will be under direction of Adams Crematory.