Patricia V. Campbell of Excelsior Springs, MO, passed away peacefully at her home in Orlando, FL, on September 11, 2026. She was 89 years old, just 19 days shy of her 90th birthday. Patricia was a lifelong resident of the greater Kansas City, Missouri area until moving to Orlando, Florida in January of 2026.
Patricia was a homemaker known for her love of cooking for and hosting her family. She had many specialties, including chocolate chip cookies, hummingbird cake, homemade apple butter, pork tenderloins, and her famous briskets, to name a few. She was loving, caring, kind and never failed to shed a few tears at the end of family visits. In her professional career she worked for the U.S. Postal Service as a mail carrier for 10 years, driving a nearly 70-mile rural route to deliver mail.
Patricia was also a founding member of Kearney Community Covenant Church, where she served as a deacon and was a member of the women’s Bible study group. She was also a member of Kearney United Methodist Church for many years.
Patricia was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Curtis Campbell, whom she married following the death of her first husband, Arthur Abbott; her daughter, Debra Murray; her infant son, Mark Abbott; her parents, Leta and Russell Lehman; her sister, Dorothy Frendle; and her brothers, Randy Lehman and James “Junior” Lehman.
She is survived by her daughter, Laura (Phillip) Bengtson; her son, Michael (Tobi) Abbott; her brother, David (Marilyn) Lehman and her sister, Margie Rutledge. She was a loving grandmother to nine grandchildren and many other great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
The family would like to thank the care staff at Westbrook Care Center and Lighthouse Home Care in Kearney, MO, as well as the staff at Providence Living in Hunter’s Creek, FL. These communities had been her homes since 2017, and the family is deeply grateful for all the angels who provided Patricia with friendship and loving care.
Everyone who knew Patricia knew how fiercely independent she was. She showed strength and determination in every aspect of her life. She was known for helping others, sharing her smile with everyone in the community, and never passing up an opportunity for a good walk and talk.
Patricia will be deeply missed by her family and all who had the privilege of knowing and loving her. Her memory will live on in the many lives she touched, the meals she lovingly prepared, and the countless moments shared around her table.
Patricia’s celebration of life will be held on Monday, September 21, 2026 with a visitation from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Fry-Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, 208 S. Jefferson, Kearney, MO; followed by a graveside service to be officiated by Pastor Truax at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Kearney, MO.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief organization (modr.org) at 400 E. High Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101 or the Heart of America Council, Scouting America at 10210 Holmes Road, KCMO 64131. Both organizations volunteered to help clear tornado debris from her yard in 2019.
