Patty Sue Pate

Patty Sue Pate was born on August 13, 1961 to Lethea Elizabeth (Jones) Pate and Bennie Day Pate. She was the youngest of 6 siblings, Patricia Ann, Glenn, Larry, Gerald Ray, and Nancy. Patty is survived by her older brother Glenn, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and many family members. She was also preceded in death by her sister-in-law, Gloria Pate. She grew up in Angier and Kennebec as her family gardened, raised pigs and chickens, and cut firewood. Shelling butter beans with family was a favorite pastime, although she slyly avoided the garden work to grow them. Patty enjoyed her mother’s home-cooked meals on Sundays with extended family laughing, sharing, working, and playing together.

Patty was by her mother’s side doing dishes, cleaning the house, and hanging out laundry. Although not a fan of school, Patty always had family members beside her to stand up for her. Patty loved her potatoes and her mother always had some form of potatoes for Patty; potato salad, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, and any other way potatoes can be made. After her mother passed, someone in the family always made sure Patty had her potato salad which brought her much joy. Patty loved talking on the phone and found her real niche when she got her driver’s license. She drove everyone everywhere. In her later years, she drove friends at her apartment to the store and beyond. Her dream car was a red PT Cruiser, and we can only imagine she’s driving around Heaven in her dream car. One of Patty’s gifts was remembering numbers. Before cell phones, if anyone needed a birth date or phone number, Patty was the source.

Christmas and her birthday was an exciting time for Patty. Her anticipation of presents and her joy unwrapping them delighted her (and everyone else) for days. Patty loved going to the beach and being in the sun, sometimes too much sun. Patty loved going to the state fair, where her first boyfriend worked. Later when she had her own apartment, she would find special companionship with John who she enjoyed meals with and his home cooking, and they played Uno almost every evening. Patty could be ornery and tenacious and knew exactly what she wanted, and didn’t. She stood her ground for her choices and wanted to follow her own path. Living in her own apartment was her goal, and she attained that. Her mother and father would be proud knowing that she was successful with that endeavor in her life.

Patty was extraordinarily special to countless family and friends. As family gathered around her in her last days before she ascended to Heaven, the Chaplain expressed how in his 9 years of ministry, he’s never seen so many people around their loved one for prayer. That’s how much Patty was loved. Everyone has their funny stories, happy memories, and special connection with Patty and she will be sweetly missed by all.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, March 16th at 2:00 pm at Kennebec Baptist Church Cemetery, Angier.