Amy Beth Patient

Amy Beth Patient was born to Nancy and Harold Hawkins in Harvey, Illinois on October 9th, 1965. She and her parents moved from Harvey to South Holland before her younger brothers- Robert and Michael- were born. In 1976, her father’s job with the railroad brought the family from South Holland to Warrensburg. She was less than thrilled to be moving to Warrensburg from the Chicago suburbs, but she made the most of it, graduated from Warrensburg Latham High School in 1983 and made lifelong friends through her years on the pom squad, volleyball team, and writing for the school paper, as well as for the Herald and Review. It was also at WLHS where she met Lance—the love of her life.
Lance and Amy were high school sweethearts, their young love blossoming during their junior and senior years. Life took them on separate paths after graduation- they broke up, married others, and started families of their own. Amy had three daughters- Jeanette, Jenny, and little Haley- and one son, Thomas. Lance became a father to two daughters, Whitney and Alissa. For more than two decades, they lived separate lives, raising children, navigating joys and heartaches, and growing in their own ways. Then, 22 years later, fate stepped in. Lance and Amy found each other again- and this time they knew it was meant to last. When they reunited and married, they didn’t just become husband and wife- they became bonus parents to two more adult daughters, Jenny D and Casey, blending their families into one big, beautiful patchwork of love. Together, they became grandparents to 13 precious grandchildren: Hailey (Grant), Cailey, Akili, Trinity, Maddy, Claira, Knox, Cruz, Kamron, Amiyah, Clayton, Jacoby, and Cora.
Amy wore many hats throughout the years both professionally and personally. Amy worked at the power plant before staying home to raise her children. She ran an in-home daycare, and when her children were all in school, she began working as the recess/lunch lady at Niantic-Harristown Elementary School, where she was lovingly known as Miss Amy. When her children moved on from elementary school, she began working with her mom as an administrative assistant for Dr. Beede. She later went back to school at Richland Community College and became an LPN. She finished her career working at HSHS Family Medicine in Mt. Zion. Amy didn’t just work her regular jobs- she also miraculously found time to volunteer. She volunteered with the American Red Cross, assisting with recovery efforts in New York City after 9/11 and cleanup efforts following the Moore tornadoes. She founded a support group, Operation Enduring Support, for families of deployed soldiers. She proudly served on the Village of Niantic Park Board and with the Niantic Volunteer Fire Department and coached summer league softball.
Her greatest joy in the past couple of decades has come from being Grammy. She is the loudest fan and “Bench GrAmy” for the Storm baseball team. She was also the Easter Bunny and Mrs. Claus for children in Central Illinois and Columbia, Missouri. Please assure all of those children that although Amy has passed, her magic will live on. We promise to continue to honor her by making the holidays full of magic and wonder.
Amy was, to put it lightly, iconic. She was a source of light and love to all who knew her. She embodied what it meant to be loving, giving, and selfless, and she lived her life in a way that raised the bar for all who knew her. As cliché as it is to say, she really did light up the room and could make anyone smile with her infectious laugh and ability to see light even in the darkest of times. Amy showed us what genuine faith looks like. She loved like Jesus—with grace, compassion, generosity, and a heart that always made room for one more person. She didn’t lead with judgment or condemnation; she led with love, welcomed people exactly as they were, and somehow always made “the more the merrier” feel like a way of life.
With a smile on her face and a heart full of optimism, Amy faced one of life’s toughest battles- a cancer diagnosis. But with unwavering faith, a life rooted in prayer, and the fierce love of her family, she faced every challenge with extraordinary strength. That strength became a pillar for the entire family, a living reminder of hope, resilience, and the miracles love can bring. Amy’s story stands as a testament to second chances, the strength of family, and the power of faith.
She passed peacefully on the morning of Wednesday, August 12th, surrounded by Lance, her children, her Jill, and her beloved deer. She was reunited with Little Haley in time for Haley’s 37th birthday in heaven.
Amy is survived by her husband, Lance Patient of Decatur; her parents, Nancy and Harold Hawkins of Warrensburg; her children, Jeanette (Jasin) Swick of Illiopolis, Jenny Rigdon of Columbia, Missouri, Thomas Rigdon of Illiopolis, Whitney (Matt) Prosser of Macon, Alissa (Jarrel) Patient of Champaign, Jenny (Mike) DeWeese of Harristown, and Casey Eaton of Mt. Zion; her 13 grandchildren, Hailey (Grant), Cailey, Akili, Trinity, Maddy, Claira, Knox, Cruz, Kamron, Amiyah, Clayton, Jacoby, and Cora; her brothers, Robert (Georgia) Hawkins of Evanston and Michael (Dana) Hawkins of Warrensburg; as well as nieces, nephews, niblings, cousins, and countless friends, coworkers, and fans.
Please join us on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Brintlinger and Earl to celebrate Amy’s life. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with a celebration of life service to follow. A graveside service will then follow at Illini Cemetery (Batchelder Cemetery) in Warrensburg, Illinois.
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family in care of Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Homes at www.brintlingerandearl.com.