Patricia Ann Harris

Pat, the oldest of Derold and Clarine Davidson’s five daughters, was born July 8, 1954, in Cozad, Nebraska. As the oldest, she naturally displayed keen leadership skills as early as kindergarten. She graduated from Cozad High School in 1972 and began a family shortly thereafter with the birth of her son, Don, and daughter, Theresa. Her banking career began around the same time, as a teller in North Platte, and she furthered her training at the University of Oklahoma Banking School.

In 1982, Pat journeyed to Houston, Texas. There, she started in small-business lending at Citi National Bank, which led to an opportunity at Small Business Loan Source. It was there that she began to grow her reputation in the industry.

She met her husband, Danny, on a blind date on Friday the 13th. They were married in Cozad three months later, on December 27, 1991, and went on to make their home in Houston.

In 2001, Pat accepted a position with Matrix Capital Bank in Denver. Her business thrived, but in the summer of 2005 she returned to Houston to be closer to her family. At the time of her passing, she was the Vice President and Director of SBA Servicing at Veritex Bank.

Although her professional accomplishments were many, she will always be remembered for her love and generosity to everyone who crossed her path. Her home was open to anyone who didn’t have a place to be or a friend to be with. Many holidays were filled with friends whose families weren’t nearby, so Pat welcomed them to her home instead. Christmas was undoubtedly her favorite time of the year because she lived for gift-giving. Rarely would anyone leave her house emptyhanded.

We are sure that as Pat walked through the gates of heaven, the angels fired up their guitars for the first chords of Sweet Home Alabama. We’ll never know whether her love for the Alabama Crimson Tide was due to her husband and daughter’s affiliation, or because she simply looked so good in crimson. Either way, Saturdays in the fall were for Bama football.

Pat was the epitome of someone who worked hard and played harder. She was always down for a good time, and was the ultimate hostess. She loved themed parties in particular. “Grammy is doing the wobble” was a line frequently heard at her get-togethers.

During Bama’s offseason, Pat could be found at the Texas coast, fishing and boating. No antique shop was safe when she was on the hunt, and she was known to drive early and often to craft shows and festivals. She loved to make things for others, whether it be wreaths, blankets, baskets, or trinkets. She was a Silent Auction Queen.

A special energy surrounded Pat and everything she touched. She served on behalf of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s merchandise and other committees for 14 years, KC Queens Bowling Team for over 20 years, Diamonds & Dollars, Garden Club, Light the Night, and any other charity that approached her and stated their cause.

Whether it was as Grandma, Grammy, or MiMi, Pat went above and beyond for her beloved grandchildren. She was at every event. She made costumes and dresses, took trips with them, and made each of them feel uniquely cherished. She never missed an opportunity to go shopping, and loved to coordinate these trips when Danny was hunting so he couldn’t see the haul.

To wrap her up in a few lines is an impossible task. She loved big and gave every ounce of herself, never asking for anything in return. She always looked for a need to fill and a person to bless. In times of stress, she was a steady ship on a rocky sea—never panicked, always steady. Her loss produces ripples of pain, but her impact is an endless ocean of blessings.

She is survived by her loving husband of 30 years, Danny; son Don and wife Michele; daughter Theresa and husband Shane; son Jarrod and wife Camille; daughter Sylvia and husband Garrett; grandkids Donn, Makenzie, Zach, Tyler, Johnathon, Josh, Lauren, Kaleb, Siddalee, Emma, Rhett, JJ, Austyn, and Lillian; mother Clarine Lee Davidson; and sisters Cynthia Crick, Christine Taylor, Derry Cornelius, and Elizabeth Stevenson. Pat is preceded in death by her father, Derold Dwayne Davidson, and her grandparents, Harry and Gladys Davidson and Frank and Marjorie Monroe.