Anita Padgett

Anita Sanderson Padgett, daughter of L.E. and Ava Sanderson, died after a brief illness at her Lone Oak home at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, January 10, 2010, at the age of 97. Mrs. Padgett was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, Marvin Padgett, who died in 1989 at the age of 80. She was also preceded in death by her brothers Robert and Paul Sanderson.
Anita Padgett graduated from Lone Oak High School in 1929, where she was captain of the girls' basketball team. In addition to her family, Mrs. Padgett's life revolved around a love of music. She studied piano at Murray State and choral conducting at Smith College. During the Great Depression, Mrs. Padgett played the piano for her own radio program, "Melodies with Anita," and later organized and directed the "Mother Singers," a chorus from McCracken County schools that gave concerts to raise money for PTA scholarships. Mrs. Padgett taught piano lessons for over 75 years to many Paducah-area children and adults and played the piano for numerous weddings and funerals.
Mrs. Padgett was a life-long member of the Lone Oak United Methodist Church, where her mother and grandmother were charter members. For 63 years, she was the volunteer church choir director, beginning when she was 23 years of age and retiring at age 86. She also taught Sunday school classes, organized and directed children's choirs, and was active in the Wesleyan Circle and United Methodist Women, the latter including service as President. In addition to her church work, Mrs. Padgett was an avid reader and frequent visitor to the Paducah Public Library. In 1997, she became a volunteer tutor for the McCracken County Literacy Program. She was also an expert quilt-maker and led an active life including numerous trips to Europe to visit family members.
Mrs. Padgett is survived by one sister, Marian Peter of Azusa, California; four daughters, Ann Boss (J.D. Boss Jr.) of Lone Oak, Janice Harper-Smith (Robert Dean Smith) of Lugano, Switzerland, Gail Cardi (Paul Cardi) of East Greenwich, Rhode Island, and Dr. Deborah Padgett of New York, New York; eight grandchildren, Sherry Golightly, John M. Boss, Shane Boss, and Samuel Boss, all from Paducah, Mary Gail Harper of Berlin, Germany, Adam Brown Burnside, Leigh Cardi and Cliff Cardi, all of Rhode Island; eight great-grandchildren and one stepgreat-great grandchild.
Funeral arrangements include visitation at the Lone Oak Chapel of Milner & Orr Funeral Home on Tuesday, January 12, from 5 to 8 p.m. and at Lone Oak United Methodist Church on Wednesday, January 13, from 10 a.m. until the funeral hour. The service will be held at Lone Oak United Methodist Church on Wednesday, January 13, at 1 p.m. with Dr. Ben Boone, Dr. Rick Dye and Rev. Dossie Wheatley officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to the "Anita Padgett Scholarship Fund" in care of the Lone Oak United Methodist Church, or donations to the church in her memory. Both can be mailed to: Lone Oak United Methodist Church, 3835 Old U.S. 45, Paducah, KY 42003.
You may light a candle or leave a message of sympathy at milnerandorr.com.