Patrick Ormonde Fowler

I recently read an article about being true to yourself. Following your own path and being content with your choices along the way. Well that was Pat. In his own gentle, quiet but always determined way, he set his path in life, worked hard and made many good friends along the way. He was a loving and devoted husband to his beloved Stephanie, and a dedicated and proud father to his son Colt, granddaughter Kiersten, and new daughter-in-law Julie and Ayden, Parker, and Ella.

From the time Pat was 8 or 9 years old he worked. His first job was a paperboy for the local newspaper in our little home town, Crowley, Louisiana, approximate population 16,000 (rice capital and home of the international rice festival - even had President Kennedy and his wife attend our festival when he was a Senator in the early 60's). Everyday come rain or shine, Pat got those papers delivered. He would ride his bike from school, pick up the papers at the newspaper office (on the other side of town) ride back home, fold them (he had a special system to do this while watching cartoons at the same time) and then successfully complete his paper route. He never missed a beat! Our mother was so proud when the neighbors and locals on Pat's route called her to tell her what a great job Pat did! At Christmas, time he was always coming home loaded down with gifts from them to show their appreciation. The newspaper also did a little write up with his picture on their paperboy and what a great job he did!

His next job when he was in high school was to run the movie projector at our local theater, the Rice Theater. He did so well he was eventually running the theater. After his years there, he was employed by the local 7-11 (which was called Pic-a-Pac). He began as the cashier and did so well again that they promoted him to manager. He opened early and was the last one to lock the door at night. He gave his all to everything he did and everybody he worked with always thought highly of him.

Later he decided to enlist in the Air Force and was sent to Lowry Air Force Base in Denver. He successfully completed his 4 year enlistment there and decided to remain working on the base in a civilian capacity. He worked his way up the proverbial ladder and ran the maintenance department for the entire base as Deputy Chief of Operations. We will never forget just how very proud our parents were when he sent them a copy of the letter of recommendation he received from President Carter himself in acknowledgement of a device he had developed to help save the government money. He worked there successfully for over 30 years and made many friends and was well known on the base.

After his beloved Stephanie passed away, he finally decided to retire. He loved his home and all his neighbors and was always there for them when they needed him. He was a man of many talents. He loved animals and they all loved him back. He even successfully trained a few, including horses. He also fed the neighborhood deer who would come by to visit him. He had amazing mechanical abilities and could take apart and reassemble almost anything. Recently he was learning to play the guitar and said he could strum a few recognizeable country and western tunes. In his last years he made many many new friends at the local hangout Stagecoach. He loved spending time with all of them learning to line dance and drinking fireball whiskey! And dancing on a few bars! He shared with us often how much he looked forward to spending time with his friends at Stagecoach.

This was our Pat, making so many friends along the way. He was dedicated, caring, devoted and always true to himself. And always with that sweet smile and that twinkle in his eyes. We will all miss him greatly!