Patricia R. (nee Reid) Hales, 97, passed from this life on Sunday, November 13, 2016 in Mount St. Mary’s Hospital. Born on December 8, 1918 in Shawnee, Oklahoma, Pat, as she was known by many, grew up on a farm with her parents, Amos and Myrtle; two brothers, Loren and Elwin and a sister, Vesta. After applying for and being accepted for a government job as a typist at the onset of WWII, at the age of 21, she left home and traveled by herself to Washington, DC, which was her first trip out of Shawnee.
After a short time in Washington she found a room to rent and there met her future husband, Raymond Hales. They married June 3, 1947 in Bethlehem Chapel, Washington National Cathedral. Pat lived in Kensington, Maryland with her husband and two daughters until her daughters went away to college, and her husband passed away (1990). She stayed in their family home until 2010 when she moved to Niagara Falls, NY to live with her daughter Diane and son-in-law Ray.
Pat worked for the government, most recently as a Purchasing Agent for NIH (National Institute of Health), in Bethesda, Maryland for over 50 years, until she retired at 85 years old. After that time she enjoyed volunteer work at a local Senior Citizen Center.
Pat enjoyed sitting outside enjoying the sounds of nature, reading, spending time with family and friends and loved to travel. She also had a fondness for hummingbirds. Pat was always up for an adventure, as her first trip to Washington clearly showed. She was a Girl Scout leader for her daughters, joining them on a number of camping trips. Some of her biggest adventures came after the age of 70! She traveled widely, including Kenya, Egypt, the Seychelles, England, Switzerland, Holland, Austria, France and Belize. She also traveled widely in the US, visiting 30 + states—among her favorites were Hawaii and Colorado. Even at the age of 97, she made trips to Steamboat Springs, CO, and to New England.
Survivors include, two daughters, Valeria (Bill) Schiemann and Diane (Ray) McGranor; grandchildren, Kellie (Jim) Schwartz, Cassandra Kercado and Michael McGranor and great-grandchildren, Brianna Kercado and Mila Schwartz.
The family will be present to receive friends on Friday, November 18th from 4-7 p.m. in the Chapel of OTTO REDANZ FUNERAL HOME, in the Town of Niagara, where a funeral service will follow visitation at 7:00 p.m. with Deacon Patrick Bradley officiating. Private interment will be held in Parklawn Cemetery in Maryland.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish to honor Pat in the form of a contribution are asked to consider, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. This was a charity that she loved for the care they showed to sick children and their families.
Condolences may also be sent to the family by visiting www.goodlandercares.com.
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