Patricia Irene Myers

Patricia was a beloved wife, sister, mother, teacher and above all friend. She is survived by her daughter, TerriLea, 57 in Winter Park, Florida. Her husband, Harold passed away in 1999 and she missed him to the day she died. They had been together since age 11. At age 13 he walked into the classroom where she was in the back with some friends. She told them, “Stay away, girls. He’s mine” and he was. Except for one time when he asked her if he should marry another girl. She told him “yes”. A few months later he came back to her and asked her to marry him. She said she held her breath the entire time. When you love someone set them free…can be scary.

She enjoyed touring the U.N with her class led by Dag Hammarskjold. She was a devout Democrat and worked tirelessly for JFK’s campaign. She was so proud that he stopped to have a conversation with her during his campaign travels. In a pill box hat, she was the image of Jackie Kennedy. Another proud moment was a luncheon she attended where she sat next to and talked at length with Eleonor Roosevelt. For a devout Democrat it doesn’t get better than those icons.

Pat taught in many schools, travelling with her husband for his work in the hotel industry. There are students from her 5th grade classes and up that still ask about her. She loved her students. She took time to know them outside the classroom and they became better students and better people for it. There were times when she would fight the school to keep a “bad kid” enrolled because she knew she could get through to them. She never believed in the words “bad kid”. These were kids that came from a tough home environment; something she understood all too well. She knew they required patience and an open ear and mind.

In later years she taught at Southern College and loved the college level interactions and helped write grammar textbooks for online lessons - - very new at that time.

Patricia was often called “Mom” by various theatre denizens who worked with her daughter in local theatres. She worked all night painting a stage floor and helping her daughter figure out how to put up a window unit in a set so the show could open the next day. She would help hem costumes, run lines to help with memorization and didn’t mind listening to the same song over and over again. It was not uncommon for her to bake cookies for rehearsals or for the office where her daughter worked. Many still ask “how’s Mom” when they see Terri.

These are memories that will last forever.

I will miss her. She was not only my Mother she was my best friend and confidant. Mom taught me how to cook, how to think for myself and to treat everyone as an equal. She taught me to stand up for my beliefs, but keep quiet if I don’t have all the facts yet. Most of all she taught me that I am a complete person just as I am. As long as you are a complete person you can allow others in your life without fear of losing yourself. I feel lucky to have had her in my life for 57 years and will cherish her memory always. God Speed Mom. I know you are up there laughing at one of Dad’s silly made up jokes. He loved to make you laugh. Two of the three musketeers are together again. I love and miss you both.