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Patricia Demarino Rhodes, 77

On Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, Patricia Demarino Rhodes — loving mother, grandmother, sister, wife and friend — passed away at the age of 77.

Pat was born Aug. 8, 1941, in South Portland, Maine, to Margaret (Francione) and Louis Demarino.

Pat married her first husband, John Wells, at the age of 18. She had her first child, Kelly Jean at 19. They traveled with the Navy and lived in Scotland for two and a half years until Pat’s second child, Stacy Lynn, was born and brought them back to live in Maryland until they were transferred to Pat’s favorite place, Oahu, where they lived for three years. Coming back to the mainland, she lived in both Napa and Cupertino, Calif. After a divorce she continued to work in the automotive industry and raise her daughters in the Bay Area until she met her second husband, Garry Rhodes.

Pat and Garry eloped to Santa Cruz, Calif., on April 1, 1978, and came home with a newspaper to prove it to the girls who were in disbelief! Shortly after their marriage they moved to Issaquah, Wash., where they bought their home where they would have many memories and much mischief for almost 30 years.

Pat, being an avid car lover, worked for many dealerships in the Seattle area. Everyone knew her ... the fiery redhead! How could they not? She drove her 1968, burnt-orange, metallic-fleck Corvette to work every day. She loved that car and shared it with not only her daughters for their prom but her oldest grandson as well.

She and Garry had two boats. The first was a small ski boat that got lots of love. Garry loved to stop short and flood us with water — all the while Pat laughed at him. They got a taste for the water and purchased a bigger boat that could be in the Puget Sound, ‘JellyBean.’ Pat and Garry were out every weekend they could be and — oh my — the crab and fish that would come home! They soon found Anacortes, Wash., their weekend getaway for many years. They continued to have their adventures on the water until it was closer to Pat’s retirement, and then another adventure called them — the RV life!

They moved to Colbert, Wash., to set up a new home base for the RV. It was on acreage, which Garry loved, and close to shopping, which Pat loved. It was also close to their four grandchildren.

They saw many places in the RV, including Baja, Mexico; New England; Louisiana and places in between. It was the best of both worlds for them; a home and an adventure. One trip led them to Florence, Ariz., where they found their winter home. In this new place they made new friends and a bonus was that Pat’s brother, Louie, was in the very same area.

Pat lived in the RV and Colbert for many years and was fortunate enough to spend time with friends who she worked with in Seattle and with family in the area. After the passing of her beloved Garry, she moved closer to her daughters in Idaho. She enjoyed barbecues and holidays with her family.

Pat was preceded in death by her father and mother, as well as her husband, Garry and nephew, Gary. She is survived by her daughters, Kelly (Charles) and Stacy (Steve); her brother, Louie (Kathy); as well as her four grandchildren, Margaret, Charles, Samantha and Nathan; as well as many cousins and her niece

There is so much more to share about our wonderful mother. We will be having a wake in April of 2019 and hope that many of her friends and family will come and share their stories about this amazing woman. To see Pat’s online memorial and to leave a guest book message to the family please visit www.englishfuneralchapel.com