Patti Jo Cruz, age 61, of Clinton, Missouri passed away on Thursday, November 7, 2024 at the St. Luke's Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri. A Going Home Party will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, November 16, 2024 at the First Baptist Church in Lowry City, Missouri. A private family burial will take place at a later time. Memorial contributions can be made to the First Baptist Church of Lowry City Children's Ministry and may be left in care of the funeral home.

Patti Jo (Wilhite) Cruz was born in Portland Oregon to Billy D. Wilhite and Betty J. (Morris) on January 28,1963. The first 3 1/2 years she lived in Portland, Oregon, and was faithfully taken to West Lynch Conservative Baptist Church by both her parents. She understood and accepted Jesus as her Loving Master & Savior during Children's Church in the spring of 1966. She was raised in Molalla, Oregon, and attended Meadowbrook Community Church with her Momma.

She married Jose Luis Cruz on December 6, 1980. They were blessed with 3 children from this union, Angela L., Jose A., and Brenda J. They also had the honor and privilege of assisting in the upbringing of their nephew, Jorge.

Patti rededicated her life to God in 1991 and was baptized at Flavel Baptist Church in Portland, Oregon where she began teaching Sunday school and assisting with Children's Choir. In June of 1998 they made the big decision to move their family to St. Clair County, Missouri. After moving to Harper, Missouri, the family joined Hopewell Baptist Church where they attended and were very active for several years. They also attended Tiffin Baptist Church for a while before settling into the Church family at First Baptist Church Lowry City, Missouri. Patti was very active with her Church family as well as the Lowry City Christian School for many years.

Patti was preceded in death by her grandparents, Father/Mother, uncles Benjamin and Elmer, her aunts Deloris aka Dee and "Peggy", her cousins Cathy Lynne, David Allen, and Summer Dawn.

Now, Patti is in Heaven with her Loving Master and Savior as well as many others who went on before her. Her prayer is that YOU will join her in Heaven when it's your time. This can only happen by believing ON (not just "in") Jesus as your Master and Savior.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton, Missouri and are pending at this time.