Patsy Kumorek

On October 12, 1926 Patsy Ruth (Crafton) Kumorek, fondly known as Granny, was born. Her daughter Carolyn was very fond of telling her classmates that her mother was born the day Christopher Columbus discovered America implying that her mother was old. Fortunately for her, her mother never found out.
Patsy was the first born of Raymond and Ruth (Jacobs) Crafton of Johnston City, Illinois. She continued to live in this area for nearly forty years. Later she moved to Hardin County, Illinois, where she and her husband built a brand new house on Rt. 146. Well, folks, she’s moved again! On January 1, 2009, she moved to her mansion in the sky!
Patsy has had a full, rich family life. She grew up with two brothers and one sister – all of them in a small five room house. Her oldest brother, Bill Crafton, after serving in the military, moved to Crown Point, Indiana. Her sister Helen Jean (Dunn) Crafton who was one of the first nurses to graduate from Southern Illinois University Nursing School lived most of her life in the Johnston City area until her untimely death. Jackie Dee Crafton, the youngest of her siblings, served in the Army after high school and then moved to Decatur, Illinois.
Patsy was a wonderful mother and wife who always had a clean house and a welcoming smile for those who turned up at the dinner table. She married Joseph Michael Kumorek, Sr. on May 6, 1948. Completing this family circle were 4 children: Carolyn (Kumorek) Anderson of Elizabethtown, Illinois; Raymond Thomas (Thom) Kumorek of San Francisco, California; Joseph Michael Kumorek, Jr. often called Mike or Mikie (and yes, he would eat anything!); and Kimberly Sue (Kumorek) Dowdy who resides in Harrisburg, Illinois.
As a person Patsy was quite diversified. She was a strong Christian by faith and truly lived the “Golden Rule”. Often you could hear her beautiful alto voice echoing throughout the Church. She loved playing softball either out in the yard with all the neighborhood kids or on a women’s league team. Cooking, canning, and hunting – that was Patsy!
Patsy has left this earth but she will never be forgotten. She lives on in the hearts of her two brothers, her three children, her son-in-law Deneen, her daughter-in-law Diane, her six grandchildren, her fifteen great grandchildren and her countless nieces and nephews and friends. She goes to join her husband Joe, her son Thom, her sister Helen, her granddaughter Erica, her mother Ruth, and her father Raymond. Open up those Pearly Gates! Here comes Granny!