Patricia Ann Voce

Patricia Ann Voce passed to her heavenly home on October 15, 2026, in Columbia, Tennessee, with her beloved husband Walter at her side. She had fought a hard fight the past year with several health issues.

Patricia, known as Ann to her family, was born on February 25, 1943, in Madison County, Alabama. She was the third child and oldest daughter of eight children born to Frank and Bernice Chaney. She was proud to be part of the first high school graduating class of Sparkman High School in Harvest, Alabama, in 1961. She also served as class president.

She worked at the Russell Erskine Hotel in Huntsville as assistant manager. Pat moved to North Carolina and managed two hotels while also attending interior design school. She returned to Huntsville and started an interior design business in her house. Wyle Labs offered her a job as secretary to the Vice President where she managed 22 other secretaries. Pat then worked for World Book, traveling with her job and moving to Florence, Alabama, as District Manager.

She met the love of her life, Walter Voce, at church in Florence. They married at the Darby Drive Church of Christ on December 12, 1977. Walter was a teacher, counselor and coach, and he enjoyed preaching as needed at various Churches of Christ. They lived in Hamilton, Alabama, and later built a home there in Walter’s hometown on the family farm. While there Pat worked managing a business that made trailers.

From Hamilton, Walter and Pat moved to Sebring/Avon Park, Florida, where he taught and coached and Pat worked at the Diet Center.

They moved to Lake Okeechobee in south Florida when they bought and Pat managed a Diet Center for several years. After selling that, Pat worked with Walter in the school system. They were active at the Lake Placid Church of Christ. They spent several summers traveling with the Sojourners retirement group renovating church camps. Pat especially loved visiting churches all over the country and worshipping with member Christians. In their younger years, she and Walter owned and rode a motorcycle on many adventures.

Upon retirement in 2008, Pat and Walter moved to Bryson City, North Carolina. They spent a year in Cherokee, North Carolina. In 2010 they settled in Tennessee, first in Watertown, then in 2012 in Columbia, near a nephew and his family. Pat was a member of the Northview Church of Christ in Columbia.

Pat loved the company of numerous pets through the years, and her dog Sunshine brought her much joy in recent times. She also enjoyed reading and was an accomplished seamstress and painter. She loved decorating her homes. She enjoyed artistic pursuits of many kinds and was very talented in those areas.

Pat is predeceased by her parents, Frank and Bernice (Elkins) Chaney of Huntsville, Alabama; three brothers: Walter Chaney, McKinley Chaney and Merriel Eugene Chaney; and a nephew, Clint Chaney. She is survived by her beloved spouse Walter Voce, sisters Sarah Chaney Cox (Don) and Joyce Chaney; brothers John Chaney and Phillip Chaney (Angel); three sisters-in-law: Sue Chaney, Brenda Chaney and Priscilla Chaney; and numerous other nieces and nephews and their extended families.

Pat donated her body to the Experiment Anatomy Foundation for medical education and research. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Pat and Walter believed strongly in Christian education and have asked in lieu of flowers that memorials be made in her name to Mars Hill Bible School in Florence, Alabama, or to Columbia Academy in Columbia, Tennessee.