Patricia Peterson

Patricia ‘Pat’ Peterson passed away peacefully on July 27, 2010. Born on July 11, 1917, she grew up in West Texas, where her father was in the oil business. She graduated from Texas Women’s University, with a degree in biology and a minor in zoology. Her youthful dream had been to become a doctor, but with the continuation of the Great Depression and upon the death of her father, she reluctantly gave up her medical studies. Upon graduation, she taught biology until she moved to Dallas, where she met her future husband, Hugh S. Peterson, whom she always said swept her off her feet. A third generation Texan, she was preceded in death by her husband Hugh of 69 years; her parents, Charles C. Neeb and Grace Cox Neeb; her brothers, C. Courtney Neeb, and Harry L. Neeb. She lived her adult life in Dallas except during the World War II years, when she traveled with her husband, a pilot in the U.S. Navy. Always interested in learning, she took advanced courses at SMU, studying the arts, English, and literature. A charming, vivacious, witty, and inspirational lady, she was a natural leader, becoming president of the organizations she joined: the Dallas Woman’s club, the Dallas Garden Club, the Dallas Dinner Dance Club, Triad Book Club, Pierian Junior Club, Highland Park High School PTA, as well as serving with distinction at the Dallas County Red Cross, Parkland and Scottish Rite Hospitals, and treasurer of the Dallas Civic Garden Center. With a life-long love of flowers, she was an enthusiastic member of the Founder’s Garden club, Affiliate of Garden Clubs of America. After moving to Dallas, she became a devoted member of United Highland Park Methodist Church. Her family and her legion of friends always said she was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside; and all appreciated her impeccable taste in fashion, her genteel Southern manners, her innate joy, and her kindness to all. Throughout her life, she radiated a love and compassion for others which was expressed in her many civic and cultural activities and in her many donations in Dallas. She enjoyed friends and family foremost, and also travelling, reading, gardening. She never missed an art exhibition in the metroplex and traveled with her husband throughout the US to see major exhibitions. Even with her difficult health problems during the last two years of her life, she retained her trademark courage, wit, warmth, and kindness. Special thanks are given to her caregiver, Shirley Washington, who took the greatest care of her; and special appreciation to Yuvonne Muirhead, her personal assistant, who provided the advice and assistance to make life run smoothly. Also immense gratitude to Sonia Orellana, who was always very loving, thoughtful, kind, and available to assist her and her husband in any way. She is survived by her daughter, Sheila Grant; her son in law Joseph M. ‘Jody’Grant; her granddaughter, Mary Elizabeth Grant of San Diego; her grandson S. Clay Grant of Dallas, his wife, Connie, and many beloved nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, her wishes were for donations to be made to UT Southwestern Medical Center, Attention Dr. Eugene Frenkel, P.O. Box 910888, Dallas, Texas 75391-0888 to support cancer research. Dr. Frenkel is an extremely talented and compassionate doctor, who prolonged the life of her beloved husband Hugh S. Peterson. A funeral service to celebrate Pat’s life will be 2:00 p.m., Monday, August 2, 2010 at Sparkman Hillcrest Northwest Highway Chapel.