Remembering Patricia (Pat) Jean Fairweather 1920 – 2016

From the family of Pat Fairweather…

Patricia “Pat” Fairweather, 95, of Friday Harbor, Washington passed away on January 6, 2016. She was born in Portland, OR November 14, 1920 to Edward and Leona (Upchurch) Jones. At the age of 6 months the family returned to Seattle. Pat was raised in the Woodland Park area and graduated from Ballard High School in 1939 and Metropolitan Business College in 1940.

She married John “Jack” Fairweather on December 12, 1942 after meeting on a blind date set up by their mothers who were childhood friends. Pat and Jack spent three years in Nome, AK where Jack was agent for Alaska Steamship and Pat worked for a lighterage company which transferred cargo from ships in the harbor to shore.

In 1946 they moved to Friday Harbor where they owned and operated the Island Farm Store and Fairweather’s Fine Foods. After selling the businesses in 1957, Pat resumed her secretarial/bookkeeping career. She worked for the United State Department of Aquiculture, John O’Neil Electronics and the San Juan Island School District. Pat left the school in 1968 to become the first bookkeeper at Islands’ Convalescent Center. While working there she obtained her Medical Record Technician Certification. In 1978 she became office manager for Aeronautical Services retiring in 1982.

Pat enjoyed her retirement. She was a volunteer at the San Juan Island Library, San Juan Historical Society and the Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church where she was a 70 year member. Pat was a 65 year member of the Order of Eastern Star, active in the San Juan Island Women’s Study Club and a longtime member of the Presbyterian guilds and choir. Pat loved to read, garden, knit, sew and have lunch with her friends. She loved cats and always had at least one as a member of her family.

Pat was preceded in death by her husband Jack in 1994 and her daughter Laurie Mason in 2013. She will be missed by her family: Daughter Wendy (Dave) Picinich of Friday Harbor; grandchildren Tami Mason Hayes, Shane (Brea) Mason, Marc Picinich, all of Friday Harbor. Jill (Marty) Whitfield of Las Vegas, NV.; greatgrandchildren Alex Hayes, Gavin, Jack and Ella Mason of Friday Harbor; Arianna and Mikayla Jean Whitfield of Las Vegas. Pat is also survived by her son in law Vaughn Mason of Friday Harbor and niece Shari Pace of South Lake Tahoe, CA.

A memorial service for Pat will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 1:00 pm at the Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor, PO Box 1355 Friday Harbor, WA 98250 or the Mary Martha Circle of the Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church, PO Box 946 Friday Harbor, WA 98250.

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