Patricia C. Garrett

Patricia C. Garrett was born in Locust Grove, Ohio on July 10, 1933, the daughter of Dorothy Austin Condon and Elmer John Condon. She grew up in Greenfield, Ohio and graduated from Edward Lee McClain High School, where she served as senior class secretary. She attended Ohio University and worked for a time at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH. She moved to Florida in the early 1950s, where she worked as a secretary for the Prudential Insurance Company for several years before marrying.

Although she spent many years in Cocoa during the late 1950s and all of the 1960s as a housewife and mother, she was not "typical". She always had a can-do attitude and was never a shrinking violet. She had an infectious laugh and seemed to know every joke ever told. She was a life-long feminist and a Democrat. When her girls were young, Pat was involved in PTA and Girl Scouts, she played bridge and bunco, she was on bowling leagues, she took classes, and she read voraciously. She sewed, crocheted, knitted, embroidered and did needlepoint. She was not much of a housekeeper or cook, because she had too many other interests. She learned to paint and exhibited her oil paintings locally in Brevard and at art shows around the state of Florida. In the early 1970s, she went back to work, first at JC Penney, and then at the Coca-Cola Bottling plant in Cocoa, where she made many life-long friends.

Just after her 50th birthday, Pat accepted an overseas job with a space/defense contractor that took her “downrange” to Ascension Island. In the interview, she recalled that the hiring manager told her there would be “social pressures” associated with this assignment, as there were 14 men for every woman on the island. She rose to the challenge and soon after her arrival was elected President of the social club, with responsibility for managing the bar and entertaining those who worked on the island -- temporary duty contractors from the U.S., U.S. military personnel, and the “Brits” – members of the RAF stationed there. Pat came to know them all, made sure everyone had a drink in hand, and she became known for the social events she organized, which included an annual celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s Birthday (fancy hats required) and several raucous toga parties. She spent 12 years working on Ascension Island, during which time she served in administrative roles and used the security clearance she had gained while at Wright-Patterson to serve as a communications specialist, handling transmissions from military personnel around the world. She used her off time to travel to Ireland, South Africa, and Las Vegas with friends. This was the time of her life.

After retirement, she returned to Cocoa and enjoyed bridge, bingo and became very involved as a genealogy researcher. She traced her family lines back beyond the American Revolution, and in 2007 was granted membership in the Society of Mayflower Descendants.

Pat is survived by her brothers, Charles F. Condon (Betty), John Condon(Paulette) and her sister, Jo Ann Condon Gulley (Kent). She also leaves behind three daughters—Ann Patrick, Jane Bradley (Gary) and Laura Cook; and her five grandchildren—Sara Neptune, Robert Cook, Jr., Chelsea Patrick, Patrick Cook, and Joseph Cook; as well as two nieces, a nephew and many other friends and family whom she cherished.

As the end approached, Pat forgot much of her life, but she gave it all she had. We won’t forget that.

Pat didn’t want a service, but if you would like to remember her, please support the Alzheimer’s Association based in Chicago, IL, and the good work they do to combat this horrendous disease.