Patricia Ann Barton

Just 11 days after her 92nd birthday, Patricia Ann (Fitzpatrick) Barton passed away with family by her side on July 31, 2021, at Guardian Angel Homes in Liberty Lake, WA.  She was born July 20, 1929, to Gussie Merle (Sieffert) and Edward Fitzpatrick in Westhope, North Dakota.  When she was five, she moved with her parents and brothers – Dale, Clayton and Garnet – to Spokane. Patricia attended Bryant Elementary and Havermale Junior High and graduated from North Central High School in 1947.  In the summer of 1947, she met the love of her life – Joseph John Barton, Jr. – at Diamond Lake. In the summer of 1950, Patricia and Joe wed and were married nearly 58 years before he passed away in 2008. 

Forever dedicated to family, Patricia and Joe had four children between 1952 and 1960, whom they raised in Spokane Valley. Prior to having children, Patricia worked at North Central High School. While pregnant with their first child, she left that job and was a diligent, loving and committed homemaker as their children grew. In 1962, she and Joe purchased a 16-foot travel trailer, and the family spent summers vacationing, traveling and visiting numerous western states and provinces.

She always volunteered at her children’s schools and returned to work after they were grown conducting market research by doing door-to-door surveys and working at the Spokane Indians Ballpark and Playfair Race Course concession stands.  Eventually, she went to work at Spokane Eye Clinic for 25 years before retiring.  After retirement, she found great joy in creating beautiful floral arrangements for family and friends.

Always focused on living a healthy, positive and upbeat life, Patricia enjoyed cooking, baking, gardening and yard work.  She loved to bowl and, for many years, was a member of a local bowling league.  She and her husband also owned racehorses and spent many weekends at Playfair Race Course, Yakima Meadows and Longacres watching their horses run.  She also loved visiting casinos and playing the slots locally, and in Reno and Las Vegas. Throughout her entire life, her greatest joy was supporting her kids and grandkids at all their events.  She never missed a performance, game, match, meet or competition and was always seen (and heard!) on the sidelines shouting encouragement.  She and Joe were so dedicated to their granddaughters’ traveling softball teams, they purchased a motor home and drove to each tournament every summer for six years.

Patricia was preceded in death by her parents, her three brothers, her husband and her daughter, Suzanne Barton.  She is survived by two daughters Sandra (Richard) Mills, Sheryl Barton (Andrew McCoy) and her son Scott (Tracy) Barton.  She is also survived by her grandchildren Jennifer (Jon) Schlenske, Tori (Scott) Hendricks, Hana Barton, Anika Labinski and Bryant Barton.  Additional survivors include great-grandchildren Lillian Hendricks, Amelia Hendricks, Toryn Rabehl, Cannon Schlenske, Hudson Schlenske and Tamryn Hall, and many nieces and nephews.

Patricia's family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Rita Snow and her staff, the staff at the Tudor at Guardian Angel Homes in Liberty Lake, and Horizon Hospice for their compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, 2230 E Sprague Ave, Spokane, WA 99202 or SCRAPS, 6815 E Trent Avenue, Spokane Valley, WA 99212.

For those who would like to attend, there will be a graveside service Monday, August 9, at Greenwood Memorial Terrace at 10:30 a.m.