Monday, March 24, 2014

Obituary -- Patricia E. Hall 1922-2014



    On the first day of Spring, March 20, 2014 Patricia E. Hall passed away with family members by her side.  She was a resident of Emeritus at Highland Hills Assisted Living in Pocatello, Idaho.  Heritage Hospice had been providing Pat with loving care for the past several weeks.  

     Patricia was born December 8, 1922 in Allendale, Missouri to Dewey and Edna Mae (Dickerson) Gilland.  She was the second of five children.  Her older brother, George Gilland and next younger sister Naomi Williams preceded her in death.  Younger sister, Mary Ellen Prater lives in St. Joseph, Missouri, and brother, Jon Quentin Gilland lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  

     Pat graduated from Grant City High School, attended State Teacher’s College in Maryville, Missouri, then taught in a one room schoolhouse near Grant City for a year.  In 1941 she married her sweetheart, John Larkin Hall, Jr. and they were married nearly 66 years.  They had two daughters:  Janice, married to John Russell and residing in Syracuse, New York, and Susan, married to Jerry Furlong, living in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  

     They moved to San Diego, California, where Larkin worked in a war production plant until he enlisted in the U.S. Navy.  After they came back to Missouri, Patricia went to school and became a licensed Cosmetologist.  She had her own beauty shop in Grant City for many years.  In 1956 they moved to Farmington, New Mexico.  In the early 60’s Patricia went back to college for her teaching degree.  She drove 100 miles round trip for the next two years and graduated with honors from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.  She taught elementary school for 17 years in Farmington, and was loved by her students as well as her fellow teachers.  She was both a Girl Scout leader and a Cub Scout leader, a talented artist, quilter, seamstress, and had always been an avid reader.  She made beautiful porcelain dolls and period clothing for them.  She and Larkin won a blue ribbon at the New Mexico State Fair for a wonderful doll house they made with electric lights, handmade furniture, little curtains and crocheted rugs.  She loved to play cards and had a great sense of humor.  She was accomplished in so many areas,  but most of all she brought smiles and happiness to everyone she knew.  She truly “never met a stranger”.

     Pat loved her family – especially her three grandchildren:  Amy Welsh, Jennifer (& Steve) Maheras of Pocatello, and Alyson (&Christian) Natoni, Idaho Falls, Idaho.  She had six great grandchildren:  Emily Joslin, Alexis, Sam and Gabe Elsethagen, and Jack and Lily Maheras, and one great, great grandchild Henry Joslin.

      Funeral Services will be 2:00 P.M. Thursday, March 27, 2014 at Prugh-Dunfee Funeral Home, Grant City, Missouri with visitation one hour prior to service.  Patricia will be buried next to her dear husband, Larkin, in the Grant City Cemetery.  She will be remembered with love by all who knew her.     

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