Patsy was a woman of great integrity, a loving mother and grandmother, a hard worker, and a talented musician who possessed perfect pitch. She was quick to laugh, calm in the midst of the storms of life, and a cheerful optimist.
Patsy was born in Chadron, Nebraska, to Henry Albert Briggs and Reva Arlene Halldorson on June 28, 1932. Patsy had a love for music and played the piano, clarinet and saxophone. While in middle school, she joined a professional jazz band called “The Jinx”, comprised of 13 girls who played at various social functions in Port Arthur, Texas. In high school band she challenged the first chair clarinetist to play “Flight of the Bumble Bee”, won the challenge and remained first chair until the end of high school.
Patsy graduated valedictorian at age 16 from Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur in 1949, then attended the University of New Mexico, majoring in foreign languages. She played in the university orchestra, and her director had previously been one of John Philip Sousa’s piccolo players. After attending college for two years, she went to work at First Bank and Trust in Houston, Texas.
She met her husband Howard Leroy McGill in Houston in 1952 while he was on leave from the U.S. Air Force in Alaska. They were married in 1955. They had two daughters, Melinda and Maureen.
Patsy always encouraged her daughters to pursue whatever activities peeked their interest, including girl scouts, ballet, tap dance, art, music, and horseback riding. Howard was always amazed at Patsy’s financial prowess in stretching every dollar the family earned.
After moving from Houston to Lufkin in 1980, Patsy went to work at Lufkin Industries in the shipping department. She started as a secretary and was later promoted to Export Manager. After she retired from Lufkin Industries, she enjoyed reading, traveling and researching her family tree. She was a member of the Anthony Smith Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, where she served several terms as regent and treasurer. She was also a member of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, being a direct descendant of 11 of the 102 Mayflower passengers.
Surviving Patsy are her daughter Maureen McGill Vickery of Houston, son-in-law Donald Edward Vickery, Jr., grandsons Nathan Asher Vickery and Evan Connor Vickery, and half-brother Duane Albert Briggs of Marlboro, New Jersey. Predeceasing Patsy in death were her parents, her husband Howard Leroy McGill, and daughter Melinda Lee McGill Permenter. Pallbearers are Nathan Vickery, Evan Vickery, Joe McGill, Kristin Greene, Lavan Watts and Bobby Carter.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Paul’s Methodist Church of Lufkin and the Anthony Smith Chapter of the DAR.
Visitation will be held Friday, November 23rd from 6:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. at Gibson Funeral Home in Lufkin, Texas. The services will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the E.M.G. Chapel at the Garden of Memories on Saturday, November 24th with David Goodwin officiating. Burial will follow at Garden of Memories Cemetery.
