Pat Wilson

A life full of love, happiness, fun and great spirit; a life lived with no regrets, full of adventure, family and fine friends is a life worthy of celebration.

Patricia Anne Wilson is known more fondly as Pat, Mom, Gramma Pat, Grammidoodle, GG, Trish, Aunty Pat, and even Dr. Wilson.

We celebrate the life of Pat, loved and cherished by all who have met her. Patricia Anne Houston was born to doting parents Beatrice Ellen and King Henderson Houston in the small town of Negritos, Peru, where she lived her first 4 years before making her debut in Turner Valley, AB in 1938. It pained Pat to live on "Snob Hill" in this vibrant oil and gas town, but she loved her life there through grade nine when the family of three moved to Calgary.  Pat attended high school at Central and spent her Saturday evenings at SatTeen, dancing and making lifelong friends. It was Christmas 1956 when Owen surprised Pat with an engagement ring, such a surprise she had to call off  another date she had set for that night.

In 1957 Pat and Owen married and quickly had four children; Jane, Karen, King and Nancy (Paul); who produced seven wonderful grandchildren; Alex (Issa), Houston (Jenn), Henderson (Andrea), Kathleen (Matt), Joe (Lindsay), Josh and Matt (Alana), with the gift of three great-grandchildren; Ezra, Evelyn and Diana.

For Pat, life was a wonderful series of accomplishments. The 1950's brought a short career at Mobil Oil primarily entertaining folks by tearing telephone books in half, followed with marriage and children making her a superb wife, mother and best friend to all.  The 60's was spent on the run.  She was a homemaker, a volunteer at schools, bridge player and Stretch n' Sew artist, while the 70's brought on new interests: photography, macrame and ceramic painting - kitchen frogs not uncommon among her portfolio. This was the decade of fun: owning a home in Spokane, shopping, spending time with fabulous neighbours and entertaining friends and family. Pat became proficient at pulling the 31' Airstream to take the family on adventures as far away as Mexico and Ontario and many places in between, always making lifelong friends at every stop. She started her love of travel with dear friends Thelma and Joyce in Europe, and with Owen in Asia.

The 80's brought out the business owner (Kee-Lok Security) and the role of grandmother to her first two grandchildren, and trips to visit various family in NYC, London and Milan. In the 90's, Pat miraculously gave up a 40 year habit of smoking, practically overnight, and she found herself busy with five more grandchildren often being called upon for her motherly advice and babysitting expertise. The turn of the century brought Pat into her 70's, now free to travel extensively with her 3 girls and with the Wright clan - Peru, Vietnam, New Orleans, Santa Fe, Thailand, Australia, Bali, and so many other destinations, willing to backpack, motorscooter, hike and to exterminate ugly bugs as required. Pat had great joy witnessing the marriages of 4 grandchildren, the arrival of 3 great- grandchildren and was proud of her volunteer status with her cherished “Wellspring Alberta” with her signature warm embrace for anyone who walked through the doors.  (If friends so desire, donations can be made to www.wellspringalberta.ca or mail to Wellspring Alberta, 1404 Home Road NW, Calgary T3B 1G7). During this wonderful life there has been loss along the way, family members and friends, young and old but Pat stayed strong and lively throughout as witnessed by her delightful smile and eagerness to enjoy a good party.

With shattered hearts we toast this extraordinary woman who loved completely. Pat will always be remembered when we raise a glass to cheer, after all . . . . it’s 5 O’CLOCK somewhere!