Patricia "Pat" Elizabeth Graveley

Patricia Elizabeth Graveley, was born in, Deer Lodge, MT.  She spent her childhood in Seattle, WA, with her parents and 3 siblings. She was a true tomboy. She would torment her older brother, Bill, by always hanging around him and his friends. She would often best them in the sports and games they played. She won many ribbons and awards in Track and Field.

At the age of 10 while visiting Deer Lodge, MT for her Aunt Betty’s wedding she cozied up to a 15 year old Cliff Graveley until he fell off of the piano bench he was sitting on. (This bench remains at the ranch.) She proclaimed to him that night that she was going to marry him.

True to her word, she married Cliff the day after her seventeenth birthday September 7, 1943. They lived in many different locations until they moved all their belongings, which only filled a sleigh half full, into the old Ball Ranch house that had been moved about ½ a mile across the fields to the current ranch location.

She was Cliff’s right hand man being a hard worker and a dedicated ranch wife. She started her day at 5 a.m. and seldom was in bed before midnight. She could ride a horse while moving cows, help in the harvesting of the hay, and could take care of sick animals, offering them a space in the kitchen next to the wood stove as a place to heal.

She was the classic frontier woman. She separated the milk, churned the butter, made cottage cheese, and baked bread from scratch. Her garden was plentiful. She canned many fruits and vegetables. Jams, jellies and syrups became family favorites.

Pat and Cliff started their family on November 15th, 1944. She spent her whole life serving family and God. She always provided three square meals a day. Pies, cakes, cookies, and many other desserts were offered during coffee time. Anyone was invited to stay for meals and goodies. Her children’s friends and many missionaries found a bed and a warm welcome for long or short stays. Each one had a special place in her heart.

Among all of this busyness, she found time for hobbies. Flowers were a favorite. Along with the yard flowers, she chose to grow orchids in her upstairs, reaching up to 400 plants at one time. She was a gifted painter, drawer, and writer.  She would paint pictures as Christmas presents. In her later years, she downsized and started the tradition of painting Christmas bulbs for family and friends, equaling some 120 bulbs or more a year. This continued for 20 years.

Pat, wanted to give her family the best chance to know the Gospel. Jesus’ sacrifice and the salvation it offers was always at the top of her list. From her morning devotion, to church every Sunday, and eventually a weekly Bible Study showed her dedication to God and family.

Patricia Graveley was preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Anna Heltborg, her husband Cliff Graveley, and daughter Lisa An, sons-in-law Buzzy Cooper, Kit Hardy, and Duane Thome, brother and wife Bill (Louise) Heltborg, brother and wife Chris (Olive) Heltborg, sister and husband Betty Ann (Earl) McDonald.

Patricia is survived by her daughter Chris (Jim) Rachor, son Steve (Sue) Graveley, daughter Rainy (Roger) Mead, daughter Valda Thome, son Scott (Suzi) Graveley, son Shane (Donna) Graveley, son Sandy (Mary) Graveley, and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Patricia was much loved and will be missed by all. Please make memorial contributions to Avon Community Church, PO Box 224, Avon, MT  59713.

A funeral service will be held at 11am on Saturday, August 3, at the Avon Community Church, 301 Main St., Avon, MT. A graveside service will follow at the Avon Cemetery, MT HWY 141, Avon, MT. A reception will follow at the community hall in Avon on Main St.

Please visit Longfellowfinneganriddle.com to offer the family condolences or to share a memory of Pat.