Patricia R. (Davidson) Shields Lee

Patricia R. (Davidson) Shields Lee, 91, of Arcola, IL passed away at 12:53 A.M. on Friday, October 2, 2026, at Willow Breeze Hospice House in Mattoon, IL.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. on Monday, October 5, 2026, at the Edwards Funeral Home, 221 East Main in Arcola, IL. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Arcola Cemetery.

She was born on July 5, 1935, in Peoria, IL. She was the only child of Roy Lincoln and Grace Evelyn (Campbell) Davidson. She married Benjamin Thomas “Benny” Shields on May 13, 1956, in Dunlap, IL at the Dunlap Methodist Church; he passed away on April 30, 1991. She later married Bobby Eugene "Bob" Lee on November 30, 1996.

She is survived by three children, Catherine Grace “Cathy” Shields-Edgar of Arcola, IL, David Dowit “Dave” Shields of Chicago, IL, and Richard Thomas “Rick” Shields of Normal, IL, her second husband, Bob, of Arcola, IL, three grandchildren, Calen Arthur Edgar (Kathryn) of Macon, IL, Kyle Benjamin Edgar (Maddie) of Arcola, IL, and Hayley Grace Shields (Jimmy Salerno), of Greenville, SC; step grandchildren Caroline Blair (Kelly) of Big Rapids, MI, Miles Blair (Stephanie) of Galesburg, MI, and Amanda Blair of Daphne, AL, great grandchildren, Emma, Ella, Anthony, Jazmyne, step great grandchildren Henry, Charlie, Maggie, Clive and Timothy, a sister-in-law, Joyce Shields of Arcola, IL, brother-in-law, Fred Shields of Arcola, step-son, Mark Lee (Elissa) of Carrollton, GA, Bobby Jr’s family, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins who were very special to her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and her first husband, Benny Shields, and a stepson Bobby Eugene Lee Jr.

Pat was raised in Dunlap, IL, and graduated from Dunlap High School in 1953. As a teenager, she worked as a telephone operator in Dunlap and later worked at Illinois Bell Telephone Office Company. She went on to attend Millikin University, and there met Benny on a blind date. After they married, they settled in Arcola, IL, where Pat worked in the Arcola Public School System, first as a secretary at Arcola High School, then at Arcola Grade School, as a kindergarten aide, librarian, and office secretary. After Benny passed away, she worked as a secretary for the Arcola First Christian Church.

Family was at the center of Pat’s life. She and Benny loved hosting family gatherings, sharing laughter, and creating happy memories for those around them. The thing Pat liked most was laughing with her family. She also enjoyed reading for pleasure and reading with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Pat was a steady and loving supporter of her children and grandchildren in all their activities. She and Benny were also avid bridge players.

Later in life, Pat enjoyed traveling with Bob, her second husband. Together they traveled for genealogy research, and she also enjoyed antiquing.

Memorials may be made to Arcola United Methodist Church or the Arcola Public Library.

Her family thanks the many caretakers she had following her stroke, especially those at Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital’s H Wing, and Willow Breeze Hospice House during her final weeks.