Patricia Louise Enns

Pat was educated in Tulare, graduating from Tulare Union High school in 1957. She played trumpet in the marching band and one of the highlights of her high school years was marching in the inaugural parade for President Dwight Eisenhower.

She completed her first two years of college at College of the Sequoias in Visalia, CA. She went on to Westmont College in Santa Barbara, graduating in 1961 with a liberal arts degree. She earned her teaching credential and taught elementary school first in Fresno, then at Alta School in Reedley and then back to Fresno for a few years before settling permanently in Reedley in 1968.

She met her true love, Harold J. Enns, when she was waitressing at Perry’s Sky Ranch Restaurant on Highway 99 in Tulare, but they started dating when they reconnected as students at Westmont. They were married on August 12,1961 and loved each other well for 62 years.

She received Jesus Christ as her savior at the age of 9, was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Tulare, and after her marriage became a lifelong member of the Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church.

She was a stay-at-home mom to her three daughters for 17 years and then returned to Alta School to teach third grade for almost another two decades. She treasured her relationships with her fellow Alta staff members and those friendships continued for the rest of her life.

Pat spent many hours serving at church, teaching Sunday School and leading the Pioneer Girls program. She loved the bible and was always in a bible study group. She was a gifted musician. She played the piano and had a beautiful voice. She sang with the New Life Singers, a triple trio, for 11 years and in the church choir until 2020.

She was most gifted at connecting with other people. She developed lifelong friendships with neighbors, co-workers, bible study friends, and was devoted to her nieces and nephews. Those who provided a service for her (hair, house, nails) always became dear friends. She was as generous with her money as she was with her love. She showered her people with gifts and time.

One of her greatest callings was caring for her husband through his 22 years of illness. She kept Harold going, literally. Because she always chose life, even when he became physically disabled, they continued to travel all over the country, visiting family and friends, enjoying long drives, weeks at the beach and even a cruise. Because she loved her family fiercely, she got dad to countless sporting competitions, musical events, graduations, and even three long-distance weddings, for their beloved grandchildren. She was willing to learn any form of technology in order to maintain their relationships with grandchildren and great grandchildren all over the country.

She is survived by her daughters, Sandy Long (Chris), Judi Szpor (Bill) and Sharol DeGroot (Mike); grandchildren Elisabeth Long Esposito (Michael), Susannah Long Conner (Michael) , William Szpor (Corrin), Samuel Szpor, Nicholas Szpor (Karissa), Karlee DeGroot, and Kolbi DeGroot, as well as seven great grandchildren - CJ, Loren, Peter, Leighton, Adrienne, Elena and Nicky. She was predeceased by her parents, her brothers Robert and Gerald, and her beloved husband Harold.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Kaweah Health Hospice Foundation (Ruth Wood Open Arms House) 216 S Johnson St Visalia CA 93291. (Ruth Wood was one of those neighbors who became a lifelong friend and it was at “Ruth’s house” that she passed.)

A graveside service will be held at the Reedley Cemetery on Monday, April 7, 2025 at 9:00 am, followed by a Celebration of Life Service at Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church at 10:00 am.