On July 25, 2024, Patricia Joyce Whitaker (Daves), also known as Pat, Patsy, Petey (or Pete for short), Honey Bunny, Mom, and Grandma, made her way home.
From the moment she was born on February 11, 1949, in Cortez, Colorado to Grover Reed Pierce Daves and Mary Lois Finley Daves, she brought joy, laughter, and love into this world.
Anyone who knew Patsy could see her quiet, calm, inner strength. No doubt that fortitude was cultivated on the farm where she was raised. While she loved playing with her two brothers, Larry Daves and Dan Daves, she could often be found on her own – creating amazing artwork, fearlessly flying down the ski slopes, or jumping on the back of her horse, Cherokee, to blaze through the fields or to ride the 3 miles into town to grab a soda from the soda shop. She was part of student council and was on the pompom squad (because, as she would disgustedly say, “girls weren’t allowed to play sports”), but she would be the first to tell you that maybe sports weren’t her thing (co-rec, church softball comes to mind!).
She was the first in her family to go to college. She attended school at Fort Collins in Durango, Colorado, but decided it wasn’t for her. She then trekked across the country, alone, to attend Oklahoma Christian College. She also didn’t feel at home there, so she decided to move to Lubbock (where she didn’t know a soul) to attend Texas Tech University where she majored in Art.
It was at Texas Tech where she met her “soul mate” (as she called him), Jeff Whitaker. They had their first date at the first Texas Tech football game of 1969, and they would later have their first kiss at the Fair. She always smiled remembering those early days. They had a whirl-wind romance and were married on May 23, 1970. They welcomed two kids to the mix (Stephanie Whitaker Urano and Todd Whitaker), a daughter-in-law, (Melissa Collier Whitaker), and four grandkids, Kaitlyn Grace Urano, Hailey Amanda Urano, Collier Jeffery Whitaker, and Shelby Marie Whitaker. Her family was her greatest love. The house had a revolving door – friends always wanted to come over. She was the “hostess with the mostest.” With her green thumb, she created an inviting oasis in their yard – it was a place to play but also a place to relax. When play was done, there was always fresh baked banana bread, cookies, or some other homemade treat waiting.
She was able to make a loving and welcoming home, all while holding down a job. When her kids were little, Patsy worked at Methodist Hospital but later decided to work as a seamstress so she could be at home with them. She was an incredible seamstress and made many of her kids’ clothes. Ultimately, she went back to the office – working in the IT department at TXDOT. Patsy simply had a way with computers.
Even though she had a full-time job, she always made time for family and for a little self-care. When the weather was nice, she’d head to the lake. Patsy was an avid fisherman – something she learned from her mom. Inevitably, she would always catch the most and the biggest fish! She also liked to crochet. She made blankets for all the family, and probably her best work was the incredibly long and lean Santa she made. That Santa has been the source of much laughter, but it wasn’t Christmas until skinny Santa was out on display! She and Jeff traveled the globe with the kids, grandkids, family, and friends. She especially liked to go on cruises. She and Jeff went on almost 50 cruises together – her favorites being the Mediterranean cruise and the Alaskan cruise. She also traveled the country watching Jeff, the kids and her grandkids play sports, play in the band, or perform in other activities. Patsy cheered with all her might – even though she may not have known all the rules despite having attended thousands of games!
Home was her happy place. While we will all miss Patsy so much, there is no question that she is now in the loving arms of her Savior – she is Home.
Patsy is survived by her husband (Jeff Whitaker), her two children (Stephanie Whitaker Urano and Todd Whitaker), her daughter-in-law (Melissa Whitaker), her four grandchildren (Kaitlyn Grace Urano, Hailey Amanda Urano, Collier Jeffery Whitaker, and Shelby Marie Whitaker), four sisters-in-law (Kathy Lacy, Glenna Whitaker, Suvian Daves, and Dana Hunton), and her brother-in-law (Mike Lacy), and a host of nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the care team at Brookdale Monterrey and Legacy of Love Hospice for the empathy, care and compassion they provided to Patsy. They would also like to thank G. Randall and Susan Andrews for giving Patsy and Jeff a place to go fishing these last few decades.
Services will be held at Lakeridge Chapel Memorial and Designers in Lubbock, Texas at 2:00 pm on August 2, 2024, and will be officiated by L. Ken Jones and Bill Bundy. The service will be immediately followed by a reception at the chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association to help find a cure for Alzheimer’s and dementia.
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