Ethel E. (Pace) Pace

Matriarch, Ethel E. Pace, 79 years young, was born on July 25, 1941 in McAlphin, West Virginia from the union of the late Grady A. Pace, Sr., and Fannie Louise (White) Pace.  Ethel broke a lot of hearts on Monday, November 2, 2020 when she left us from the comfort of her home, surrounded by her loving family and friends at her side. She graduated from Mark Twain High School Class of “57” at the age of sixteen in Stotesbury, West Virginia.  Ethel and her brother, Grady were the first minorities to enroll and graduate from Mark Twain HS. Her beauty and talent served her well where she was the drum majorette for her high school marching band.   In 1959 Ethel left WV, and relocated to Springfield, with plans to attend college and dreams of becoming an airline stewardess.  She worked at Monson State Hospital, Mercy Hospital, Buckingham HS, Buxton’s and finally retired in 2007 from the former Municipal Hospital, in Springfield. Ethel focus in life was centered on her family. At the age of 22, she took the responsibility of becoming legal custodian of her four younger brothers and sisters. Ethel was committed to raising her family, insuring that her home in Springfield of 51 years always welcomed family and friends for all occasions. She is survived by her loving daughter, Sheryl Pace-Webb (Jeffrey); her granddaughters, Lauren Webb,  Courtney Ranson; her grandson, Colby Ranson; her great-grand daughter, Auri Ranson-Kersey; her sisters, Ruth Pace and Dreama Neabar; her brother, Lawrence Pace (Rosita) all of Springfield, and her brother, William Thomas Pace (Arlenma) of Beckley, WV; her nieces, Michelle Brown, Dimitra Kenney, JoAnn Pace, Rhonda Pace; her nephews Nate Pace, Michael Pace and Marcus Neabar; her grandniece, Taylor Pace; and her great-grandnephew,  Josiah Pace. Ethel was predeceased by her parents, her brothers, Howard Pace, Grady A. Pace Jr, Joseph Pace and Johnny Pace. Her funeral will be private at the Byron Keenan Funeral Home & Cremation Tribute Center, 1858 Allen St., in Springfield.