Patrise Shaw

The brightest day belongs to Patrise Kay Van Wicklen as she passes through the dark and enters the light. This Memorial Day, May 25th, 2015, Patrise made her transition at Peachtree Hospice in Fort Smith, Arkansas and lost her battle with cancer at 64 years of age.

Born to this world in November 4th, 1950, she became a daughter and a sister and grew to be a mother of two wonderful children and grandmother of three beautiful young minds. She was an accomplished writer and positive thinker, finding creative outlets in horses, jewelry and art appreciation. She was a family historian; often passing down stories of loved ones to honor their memories. She stumbled in life, she sometimes fell, and she would say she was a survivor. Today she no longer survives, but flourishes in the light.

Patrise leaves behind her mother, Eva Peterson; sister, Ginny FitzGerald; brother, Jim Biggs; two children, Dakota Shaw and Alshia Atchison; three grandchildren, Bryven, Logan, and Chapman; and three nephews, Brian Fitz-Gerald, Cole and Wyatt Biggs. Patrise joins her father, Al Biggs, with her ashes cast off the coast off Santa Barbara, CA. There will be no ceremony.

Please make donations to one of the three organizations in her honor:

American Cancer Society:

www.cancer.org/donate

Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center of Santa Barbara, CA:

http://www.heartsriding.org/support-donate/donate/

Arbor Day Foundation:

http://shop.arborday.org/donate-general.aspx