She was born in Sedalia, Missouri, and attended St. Agnes Catholic School in Springfield, Missouri. She later attended South West Missouri State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1961.
A love of dancing always remained with her throughout her youth and it continued to play a role in her life during and after her college studies. After graduating, she continued to dance professionally with the Promenaders (a fast paced square dance group) in the summer of 1961 for the NBC telecast “The Five Star Jubilee” at the Landers Theatre in Springfield and performed throughout the U.S.
While living in Springfield, she met the love of her life, Homer Hershey, who was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood. The two married on July 7, 1962 and celebrated 54 years together.
Later in life, she retained her enduring interest for reading by devoting her time and passion collecting an extensive personal library. She chose to pass her love of reading onto the next generation of scholars by donating her extensive collection to the Patricia Hershey Library at Frasatti Catholic High School.
In addition to her connection to the arts, she preserved a profound love for nature and animals later in her life. Pat and her husband raised eight German Shepard’s, which she jokingly referred to as her guard dogs. The dogs even traveled with them on month-long adventures throughout mountains of New Mexico where they had a home in Ruidoso.
Pat is survived by her husband Homer; her two brother in laws, Sam Hershey and Joe Hershey; a sister in law, Sue Hershey; a large number of nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews; and her two dogs Maggie and Grizzly.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Thursday, December 29th at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. Burial in Forest Park Cemetery in The Woodlands, Texas. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 pm Wednesday, December 28th at the Forest Park Funeral Home, 18000 Interstate 45 South The Woodlands, TX 77384.
Friends may make memorial contributions to the charity of their choice and flowers may be sent to the Forest Park Funeral Home in The Woodlands, TX.
