Patricia Clair Pattison

Mom was born July 24, 1944 in Garnet, Kansas to Thomas and Mary McEvoy. Thomas’ work took his family from Kansas to Oklahoma, Alabama, and finally to California.

She graduated Salutatorian from Vacaville High School in California in 1962. She was a National Merit Scholar and active in several activities including band, student council and editor of the yearbook.

Mom attended college at the University of Colorado where she met the love of her live, Thomas Roy Pattison. They married November 30, 1963 and moved to Portland, Oregon, with their young family in 1966 as Tom began his career as a banker. Mom stayed home at first but then found a career in working as a Librarian Aide in the Hillsboro and Beaverton school systems. This job brought her great satisfaction as it combined her joy in being around children and her lifelong love of books. It was a position that brought many wonderful friends into her life. The Bunco Ladies enjoyed many a laugh and enjoyed getting together regularly.

After retirement, Mom volunteered at the Oregon Food Bank, the Cedar Mill Library, and at the local elementary schools. She kept up her creative interests through wood carving and quilting. Mom enjoyed the time with her grandchildren and considered them all to be the great blessing of her life. Her granddaughters lived local and she hosted them at “Camp Gramma Patty” each summer during their elementary school years. The memories of making pea pod boats, playing Quiddler and learning to sew live on. A lifelong learner, Mom never gave up on her education and graduated from Portland State University in 1995.

Our father, Tom, died in 1987. A blessing in Mom’s passing is that they are together again. She is survived by her children Michelle Weisenbach (Mike) and Brian Pattison (Julie) and her five grandchildren Rebecca, Sara, Tavish, Bowie and Tully, and sister Sharon Howell (John).

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote the following short poem which expresses much about our memories of Mom. ”To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children…to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, this is to have succeeded!”

A private service is planned. The family suggests contributions in lieu of flowers be made to organizations that Mom cared so much about: Oregon Food Bank, Cedar Mill Library or St. Juan Diego Catholic Church.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.finleysunsethills.com for the Pattison family.