December 11, 1931 – September 10, 2022
Patricia A. Lawyer returned to the Lord from her home in Tangent on September 10, 2022. She was 90 years old and died of natural causes.
On December 11, 1931, Pat was born to Harold and Mae Norris in Numa, Iowa during a blizzard. Unable to get to the hospital or the doctor, Patricia was born at her grandmother’s house. Her delivery was assisted by her grandmother and her aunt. The family settled in the San Diego area of California.
Pat’s first job was to help out at a nearby stable that housed Hollywood stars. She acquired her first pony, Shorty, from this stable. Shorty was a gift to him from Bing Crosby. Pat became an accomplished horsewoman and participated in rides and parades with the rest of her family. She rode to school and to the beach in Cardiff.
His high school sweetheart, Warren Lawyer, enlisted in the United States Air Force in January 1951. Pat fled with Warren on December 28, 1950 to Yuma, Arizona.
Warren’s 20-year career in the USAF took him and Pat and their children all over the world, from Guam to California to Japan to Illinois to Delaware back to California and Greenland . They first moved to Oregon in 1965 where he was stationed at Camp Adair Air Force Base in Corvallis. Warren and Pat fell in love with the area and decided it was the perfect place to retire and finish raising their children. They built a house in Corvallis in 1971, after touring Guam and California, and permanently called Oregon their home. Pat worked in telephony and banking and human resources at Hewlett Packard. In 1995, Warren and Patricia left Hewlett Packard for a life on the road, touring the United States in their motorhome for five fun-filled years. They returned to the area in 2000 and settled in Albany where they became active members of the Nazarene Church in Corvallis and Albany.
Ask any military family and they’ll tell you the toughest job is the military spouse. They need to be strong, keeping the family together while supporting their husband’s (or wife’s) career. Patricia was the glue that held their family together. She became active in scouting. Pat was a Cub Scout mother and a Girl Scout cadet troop leader. She is still remembered by the girls she managed. While in Guam, she was also an active member of the Red Cross during the Vietnam War and was tasked with receiving and assisting the wounded. Pat seemed to know exactly what to say to comfort those boys who were on their way home.
Pat and Warren were well known animal lovers and breeders of Champion Alaskan Malamutes and Bedlington Terriers. They were active members of the Chintimini Kennel Club, holding many positions for many years, including chairman and chair of the show.
Pat was predeceased by her husband of 58 years, Warren Lawyer; his older brothers: Harold Norris and Bob Norris; and his parents: Harold and Mae Norris. Pat is survived by his children: Judy Lawyer of Tangent, Chuck Lawyer and his wife, Joy; four grandchildren: Bethany Atkinson, Jason Lawyer, Kristen Boyd and Ryan Lawyer; his grandchildren: Ross Atkinson, Michael Boyd, Katherine Ignacio Basilio; and ten great-grandchildren.
A service to celebrate Patricia’s life will be announced at a later date. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Cancer Society.
Online tributes can be left at www.fisherfuneralhome.com.
