Patricia Kay Moen

Patricia was born August 20, 1931 in Galesburg Ill. to Inez and Leo Taylor. She was a creative little girl who enjoyed singing, dancing, and spending time on her grandparent?s farm. She told many stories of her grandmother?s garden, how the chickens and other animals were cared for, and how her family worked the land. She attended Galesburg High School and excelled as an artist. When she graduated in 1949, she was offered a scholarship to the Chicago Art Institute. She turned down the scholarship and decided to attended Brown?s Business College to learn accounting. After graduation, Pat stayed in Galesburg and worked for the Hartenstein Loan Company.

In 1952, Pat?s friend Betty moved to Seattle. Pat decided to go with and ended up staying to work for a Mortgage company downtown. She rented a room in Hawthorne Hall, a girls? dormitory on first hill. It was here that she met many of her close friends and generated the infamous stories of dance halls and dinner clubs, learning to ski, and car camping. In 1955 she returned to Galesburg for a year when her sister was married. When she came back to Seattle, she got a job with the Boeing Company as a bookkeeper.

Pat met Kurt Moen while out dancing at the 4-spot. He offered to help her pick out skis and take her up skiing. The next day, she went out and bought skis by herself and was ready to go when Kurt arrived to pick her up. They were married October 4, 1959. They lived in a little house in Ballard when their son Tim was born. Shortly thereafter, the couple scraped up enough money to buy a house in Richmond Beach. Pat enjoyed her time as a homemaker. She wrote home about the daily surprises of parenting, her efforts to cultivate the yard, and all the work that she and Kurt had accomplished on the house.

In 1967, the couple moved to Edmonds where Lori was born. Kurt continued to work as a carpenter and fisherman and Pat stayed home with the kids. Their new yard was nothing but rocks and grass?you should see it now! When Kurt was wrongly diagnosed with a terminal illness in 1976, Pat went back to work; first for Marine Engine and Repair for several years and then for Senior Services until the time of her death.

Pat was a true and passionate individual. She devoted herself to things that she valued and believed in. Notably, her main passions were her family, her home, and her job. To these elements, she spared nothing. She would sacrifice her own pleasures to make sure that her family was taken care of. Each year, she meticulously moved plants and rocks and spread fertilizer to perfect the garden landscape. At work, she spoke her mind for what she believed to be in the best interest of the her co-workers and the organization.

Pat had many endearing qualities that made her the special individual she was. We could write a book on all of the unselfish and caring things that she did to touch our lives. She will be missed dearly by many.

Patricia is survived by her husband Kurt, her son Tim of Pensacola, FL and daughter Lori of Seattle, WA. Her two sisters; Joan Johnson and Mary Jane Shotwell, reside in Illinois. Pat will be buried at the cemetery in Oneida, IL across the path from her parents and extended family. May she rest in peace amongst the rich black dirt and corn fields.

Friends are invited to attend a celebration of her life at 2pm Tuesday, March 8 at Evergreen-Washelli Funeral Home: 11111 Aurora Ave. N, Seattle. Visitation will take place on Monday, March 7 from 12pm to 8pm. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Pat?s name to Senior Services of Seattle/King County: 2208 2nd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121.