Patricia Alice Shattuck crossed the threshold peacefully into freedom on June 10, 2018, at the age of 83. During her final years Pat was in the loving care of Dana and Stefan Mihaiuc of Tumwater Senior Living. Her first daughter, Teresa Shattuck, resident of Olympia, spent many hours by her side giving love and attention. Pat enjoyed beloved visits from her family. She often claimed, “I’m living for you kids now”, after the passing of her sweetheart and husband Bruce Shattuck on December 25, 2007. She leaves behind her four children: Teresa Shattuck (Mark Brackebusch), Olympia; Julie Shattuck (Andrew Creely) Santa Cruz, California; Diane Shattuck Hansen (Mark Hansen), Tucson, Arizona; and Mike Shattuck (Donna Shattuck), Olympia; and six grandchildren: Weston Taylor (Brittany Taylor), Sovay and Olivia Hansen, Seth and Allison Shattuck, and Dion Shattuck-Baker, great granddaughter Nya Taylor, and sister is Jeanne Metzger of Everett.
Pat was born October 24, 1934 in Port Angeles to Muriel and Harry Henson. She was the second of two children, attended Olympia High School, and lived in Olympia where she married her beloved Bruce Shattuck. She overcame a critical childhood illness, which gave her a strong will and persevering character. In spite of her struggles, Pat became a remarkably successful business woman in her own right and in her business partnership with her husband, Bruce. Pat and Bruce started and grew the local HVAC business, Air Handlers Inc., in 1967. Their business continues to serve the Olympia region under the skillful ownership of their son Mike Shattuck and his wife Donna.
Pat, Bruce and their children built a home in 1964 in rural Tumwater overlooking Mount Rainier. Pat created beauty in and around her home through her love of art, landscaping, and gardening. Together the two of them truly created a play sanctuary for their children and brought horses, dogs, cats, pigeons and rabbits, and a passion for nature, camping, and hiking that endures in their children’s lives.
Mom surrounded herself with strong, loving, and intelligent people and frequently advised that her children do the same. She followed the “Do unto others...” rule. She loved her getaway river cabin, adventures in the motorhome, a robust social life with her many friends, and volunteering in her retirement years. We remember the many creative themed parties and games in our childhood home and the beautiful Christmas and summer holidays with our beloved Metzger family in Everett. Mom loved art and creativity. When her children uttered, “I’m bored,” out came paper, pencils, crayons and her requirement to create a picture and write a letter to her own mother, Grandmother Nan, in Honolulu. She taught her daughters to sew clothing. “If it looks like it’s handmade, rip it out and start over.” She had a passion for owls and protected the beautiful birds living in the back forest of the property we all love.
Mom was delighted by and loved children. She was particularly active in helping children with disabilities--initially with her compassionate thoughts, words, and care for her own disabled third daughter and later as an active philanthropist for over 50 years for Children’s Hospital. The care she received at Children’s Hospital saved her life when at age 8 she was stricken with measles encephalitis.
As a grandmother, our Mom was often in the kitchen with her grandchildren. She was always happy to take the grandkids to the berry stand (or to the bushes on our property!) to get provisions to bake blackberry pies or her special raspberry jam (known by the family as “Nana’s Jam”). The grandkids have the most warm memories of being in Nana’s bright kitchen overlooking the fields, rolling pie crust, and mashing raspberries for jam. They will always remember going down into the basement freezer to retrieve a new jar of jam to replace the one that had been happily eaten on toast in the mornings. Mom was so generous with her time, space, resources, and affection and shared them with her grandkids unhesitatingly. Mom loved her children and grandkids at once fiercely and tenderly and would cry when those visiting from out of town would return home after a long stay. The grandkids will never forget walking with Nana and Pops out in the woods on the land that they nurtured—as they had nurtured their big family—for decades.
The family will share a celebration of her life - to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 50020, Seattle, WA 98145-5020.
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