Patricia Ann Hanford

Pat Hanford passed away peacefully at her home and went to be with Jesus on October 30, 2022, with her family surrounding her, holding her and each other. She had been in Hospice care for the past four months in her battle with Sjogren's Disease, Interstitial Lung Disease, and Parkinson's Disease.

Pat was born to Jack and Lois Berry in Denver, CO, and along with her parents and sister Kay (Ray), moved to Walla Walla Valley in the 7th grade. Pat and her family moved to Milton Freewater during her high school years, where she met her husband Mike, and the two were wed in 1962. They celebrated their 60th anniversary on October 20. They spent most of their lives living in either Walla Walla or Milton Freewater except for her college years (U of O, Beauty School of Portland) and for a time after their children had graduated and moved from home. In 1990 the couple moved to Portland and then Longview for about ten years, coming back to the WW Valley after their grandchildren (Jacob, Torrin) were born as they wanted to live closer to their grandchildren.

Pat had a few occupations while her children (Michele, Mary, Michael) were young. She was a part-time stay-at-home Mom, a beautician, and she sorted apples in the packing houses. When her youngest child started school, she was asked by the principal to help in a classroom for "special needs" children, and this started a lifetime career of working with children and teens, many of whom needed more help due to their social determinants.

Through her career of pouring her heart and soul into children, Pat worked in special needs classrooms, the alternative learning program (ALPS), Walla Walla juvenile detention, Cowlitz County juvenile detention, and retired from Wa-Hi in 1990 as the Career Center Advisor.

She loved teenagers and never met one whom she didn't want to know. She could communicate with them on a level that not all can achieve by meeting them where they were, accepting them as they presented, and truly loving them as they stood. She and her husband Mike helped many teens through the years; they unofficially fostered many who would have otherwise been desolate and homed a few who would have otherwise been homeless.

Pat's hobbies were following the lives of her children and grandchildren and pouring all she had into their interests and success. She is the maker of "World Famous raspberry jam and Monster Cookies," according to her grandkids, and continued to distribute those as much as she could through this last year.

She loved spending time in the stands cheering on her grandchildren or favorite sports teams, spending time with friends, socializing, shopping, hosting meals, fellowshipping, sewing, and taking care of others. She spent time this last month cheering on the Mariners and was happy to see them "end the drought."

She was a member of the CP Presbyterian Church and volunteer through the years, helping with VBS. She and her husband also volunteered with Young Life, the Christian Aid Center, and at the Washington Family Ranch.

She was deeply loved by her family, and she poured into them daily with text and calls. We will forever be blessed by her legacy of love and will work to carry on her service-oriented calling. Thank you to all who loved her. We believe your lives, like ours, are richer and better, having known this incredible woman, mom, grandma, mother-in-law, and friend.

Pat is survived by her husband, Mike. Her children Michele (Greg Linklater), Mary Crawford (Steve), Michael (Nichole McNutt), Daniel Tvrz. Her Grandchildren are Jake Crawford (Katie), Torrin Helbling (Josh), Laura Day (Justin), Bram Tvrz. Her great-grandchildren are Ben Day, Lucy Helbling, and Casey Crawford. As well as a large extended family full of a sister and brother-in-law (Kathy (Bob) Beckman and Ray Brumbach), many nieces and nephews, and a multitude of cousins. Preceding her in death were both her parents, Jack and Lois Beery, as well as her sister Kay Brumbach.

A celebration of life will be held on November 16, 2022, at 2:00 pm, at College Place Presbyterian Church. We would love to have you come celebrate Pat's life with us.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the LOFT. - Catholic charities Eastern WA, a Youth Social Services Organization of Walla Walla, or the Michael J. Fox Foundation in the fight to cure PD through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder St., Walla Walla, WA 99362. In addition, friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.

The family would like to thank Walla Walla Hospice and, specifically, Nurse Jenna, Chaplain Blake, and MSW Arlene for their support during Pat's illness and passing. Their tender care and never-ending support made the home care journey possible.