My sister was a special person she loved children took very care of them she will always be remembered

May you rest in peace and rejoice in being reunited with your sons and family. You will be missed and we have great memories!! Prayers and condolences to the family.

Your niece,
Kim Van Horne,

To Pat's family , I know you guy guy's will miss her... I pray God give's you peace , because she now has peace herself.

Many fond memories of you and I when we were kids and that laugh I will never forget

  To my Aunt Faye and cousin Beverly and Family, I recently heard of Pat's passing and wished I could have been there for all of you in your time of need. Although we've not stayed in touch over the years all of you are close to my heart.I'll always cherish the childhood memories when you visited. Pat was so warm and had such compassion for others. She had many trials and tribulations in her life but never stopped trying to overcome those obstacles. Her reward is in heaven. Always have you in my thoughts and prayers, Love Mark

I was about 10 years old when my Uncle started to date Pat.  I remember thinking how beautiful she was.  My Uncle would work nights and Pat didn't like to stay alone.  I spent lots of nights going over to spend the night with her.  She taught me to play Rummy, and we spent hours and hours playing cards.  I remember how happy she was when her kids were born.  She was always so much fun to be with.  After they moved to Tyler, and I grew up, I often spoke with Pat about my troubled marriage.  When I had my son she was just as sweet and playful with him as she was her own babies.  After Christopher passed she had lost a little bit of herself and I don't think she ever got that back.  When Nick died I think that was the storm that took her away from us.  I'm happy about the post saying she had good people around her because I often wondered what happened to her.  I'll miss her silly ways and her laugh.  She had an amazing way with babies and small children.  I know in my heart she is no longer afraid and that she is surrounded by peace.

Those of you who know my family knew that my mother and I were not close. That by no means takes away the pain of loosing a parent. I have struggled to find something to say and it's a hard thing to do when you are far apart. I will say this I remember her walking through the house early in the morning singing church songs, waking my brother and me up. I remember her dancing and singing on the karaoke machine in her bedroom, and playing the piano bright and early. I remember her love for children, and that she was very artistic. I am very thankful for all of those who befriended her and kept her company over the last few years. I hope that she left you all with wonderful memories, and I know that she is at peace and with my brothers

We were all so saddened to hear that our friend, Pat Rhoten, had passed away. Many of you knew her. She was the lady who walked everywhere, all day long. She was one of Frankston's people. 

We met her many years ago, when she was just walking around the area. We would always see her on her own, in town or sometimes far away. She was a mystery to us, but once she started coming often to our store, we tried to get to know her. 

We did not know her name for a year, so we called her “Lulu”. I liked the name, so I chose it. It was just a name we used with care, because we knew so little about her. I don't remember how I managed to get it out of her, but one day she told me her name. Pat.. I wrote it down and from that day on we addressed her as “Pat”. But in our hearts, she was still “Lulu” to us. It was our special name for her, and we referred to her as “Lulu” when we spoke of her amongst ourselves. We used that name fondly.

She came to be a daily bright spot in our work day. Some days she would spend hours with us just sitting at our check stands and “hanging out” here. We worried about her, and wondered where she was if we did not see her for awhile. 

Sometimes she would come in singing a song, and sometimes she danced a bit for us. Sometimes we joined in. She always had a tablet and pen with her and would write on it all the time. I always wondered what she wrote about. 

She would often buy stuff and ask us to keep it for her. We had her little stash in the back room. She bought different things. The most interesting things she brought in were toys that would be for a child. There was even a small baby doll we kept for her. We named the doll “Lulu” and have it displayed in our store.

One day on the week before she died there was a small boy in the store and he was loudly telling us all about his visit with Santa and all of the details. Pat came over to him. Most kids would be scared of a stranger getting so close, but he just stopped talking and looked at her. She was bent down in front of him, very softly asking him questions about his experience with Santa. She asked him how old he was, and he told her he was three. He asked her if she had any kids. She was talking so softly to him, but we heard her say that, yes, she did have children. 

This just made us wonder more about where she came from and what her life was like before. In recent months, she was taken in and cared for by someone named “Charlie”. I don't know him, but I thank God that he cared enough to give her a warm place to stay. She was a good person. Deep down inside, we all knew that. All of us here at Sav-Mor Foods, in Frankston, TX, would like to offer our condolences to any family members she might have. She called one of our checkers “Granny” every time she came in. I hope we felt a little bit like family to her all these years. She teased with us and shared her feelings, her aches and pains. We worried and wondered, but always knew she had Jesus watching over her. We all loved her and will miss her tremendously. May God hold her tightly in heaven, and make her feel happy and safe forevermore. 

Your friends at Sav-Mor,

Larry, Gigi, & Adam Selman, Pat House (Granny), Carol McCauley, and Alvin Bragg 

OBITUARY

Patricia Ann Rhoten

December 27, 1957 – December 7, 2013

Lloyd James Funeral Home

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