Patricia Grey (Keen) Stallard

Patricia Grey (Keen) Stallard of Grand Rapids, Michigan, died peacefully on October 7, 2026, at the age of 84. She was born in Montgomery, West Virginia, on May 14, 1942, the daughter of Cortez Grey Keen and Eunice Arlene (Elmore) Keen.

The family lived for several years near Sterling, Colorado, and then moved back to their family farm in Newton, West Virginia, now recognized as a Centennial Farm. Patty graduated from Spencer High School in 1960, earned a bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University, and later earned a master’s degree from Michigan State University.

In 1963, she married David Wayne Stallard Sr. after they met while playing the romantic leads in Bell, Book and Candle at West Virginia Institute of Technology. Over nearly 60 years, they lived in Ishpeming, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Dallas, and the Atlanta areas. They traveled widely throughout the Americas, Europe, the Caribbean, and Japan.

Pat taught elementary school, as well as middle and high school history and home economics, for 14 years in Grand Rapids Public Schools. Her second career was with Aflac, where, for 26 years, she managed the North Georgia territory, led the top team in the state, and loved helping people with their claims. She retired in 2018 and lived with her husband in Buford, Georgia, on Lake Lanier, where they enjoyed brilliant sunsets.

She was preceded in death by her husband, David Wayne Stallard Sr., and her son, David Wayne Stallard Jr., who died unexpectedly in 2012. She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Grey (Denny) Dennis; grandchildren Benjamin Wayne Dennis and Sarah Hazel Grey Dennis; her sister and lifelong best friend, Betty Potts of Johnstown, Ohio; her brothers, Stephen (Donna) Keen of Craigsville, West Virginia, and the Rev. Robert (Barbara) Keen of Newton, West Virginia; sisters-in-law Robin Ripley, Marcy (Jim) Whitlock, Paige (Mickey) Taylor, and Laurie (Dale) Kramer; and nieces, nephews, and cherished friends.

Memorial services will be held in Spencer, West Virginia, and Sandbridge, Virginia, on dates to be announced.