Misty Ann (Chaney) Painter, 50, of Riverton, died on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, after a valiant and courageous fight with bile duct cancer with family and friends at her side and her beloved “Top Gun” on in the background.
Cremation rites have been accorded. The visitation and celebration of life will be at Riverton Elementary School Sunday, Dec. 7, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. School or casual attire is encouraged. Staab Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Painter was born on Jan. 16, 1975, at Bitburg AFB, West Germany, the daughter of Robert and Carol (Edenburn) Chaney. After spending time growing up both in Watertown, NY, and El Paso, TX, she graduated from Rantoul Township High School in 1993.
She married her college sweetheart, David Byron Painter, on June 13, 1998, at Bethany Park Christian Church in Rantoul. He survives, as does daughter Kristen, who was born Aug. 17, 2009.
Mrs. Painter earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Eureka College in May 1997.
While her husband was pursuing a doctoral history degree at Ohio University, Mrs. Painter substitute taught in multiple schools in southeast Ohio before being hired to teach kindergarten at Trimble Local Schools, with her first day being Valentine’s Day 2000.
The couple moved to Southern Illinois when her husband was hired as the Marion Daily Republican sports editor in July of 2001 and Mrs. Painter was hired as a pre-K/K teacher at Carbondale New School, where she also met her dear and cherished friend, Nancy Huffman, whose support during her last weeks was immeasurable beyond what words can express. Mrs. Painter was hired to teach second grade at Riverton Elementary in April 2005 and started that position in July, back when Riverton was on the balanced calendar.
Mrs. Painter later earned a master’s degree online in curriculum and instruction from Olivet Nazarene University and she was a national board-certified teacher. Mrs. Painter remained in her second-grade position until March 2020, when she was hired as the RES instructional coach on March 9. Four days later, the third quarter ended and then COVID shut down the world. She never returned to the classroom.
Mrs. Painter battled multiple maladies over the years, from a shattered right ankle her freshman year at Eureka, multiple miscarriages, gall bladder surgery and blood clots in her leg before being diagnosed with bile duct cancer in April 2022. She faced all of them with grace and determination, with a never-ending positive attitude. In her “typical Misty” fashion, in her last days in the hospital before she came home, Mrs. Painter had a brief moment of clarity and said she had to put her absences in for Thanksgiving week. She was assured it would be okay.
In addition to her husband and daughter, Mrs. Painter is also survived by her mother, Carol (Pris Noles); brothers, Brian and Brad (Joleen Bruden), all of Rantoul; mother-in-law, Becky Painter; sister-in-law, Bridgett Painter; brother-in-law, Beau (Andrea) Painter, all of Morrisonville; and multiple nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Painter was preceded in death by her beloved grandparents, Charles and Margaret Edenburn of Rantoul; her father; uncle, Ray Edenburn; and father-in-law, Bernie Painter.
The family would like to thank the Springfield Clinic Cancer Center for their kindness and dedication over the last 43 months and St. John’s Hospital for their kindness as her last few weeks became more difficult. A special recognition goes to interventional radiologist Jamie Rinehart for her professionalism and graciousness during Mrs. Painter’s last few weeks. The outpouring of support from the Riverton School District and other local school districts also will never be forgotten.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Springfield Clinic Cancer Center, Fourth Floor, 900 Building, Springfield, IL 62702. Condolences may be left online at www.staabfuneralhomes.com.
