Patricia Alvey, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin and dear friend, passed away peacefully at home in Gilroy, California on September 27th,2024.

Pat was born in Sac City, Iowa, on January 29th, 1935, to Don Colburn and Ann Arthur Colburn. Pat and her mother moved to Longmont, Colorado, when she was about 7 years old, to be close to her father who was recovering from tuberculosis in a sanitarium. Shortly thereafter, Pat's father died from a ruptured appendix when Pat was 10. She and her mother continued to live in Longmont, where her mother worked as a beautician and Pat helped to run the household at a young age.

She received her BFA in Art and Education from the University of Denver. After college, she remained in Colorado, where she taught art and English at both Aurora Junior High, and Fruita High School.

In 1962 she moved to Wilcox, Arizona. After settling into a duplex, she quickly became acquainted with her neighbor, Bob Alvey. After a short engagement, they married in 1963. A year later her first daughter, LuAnn, was born. She always joked that she moved to Arizona to get her MFA but, instead, got her MRS!

Soon they moved to Tacna, Arizona, where Bob became the manager of a 4000-acre citrus ranch in the middle of the desert! There, they welcomed two more daughters, Jean and Beth. Pat's mother moved in with the family in 1969. Pat took much pride in designing the house they built for their family there (although she fought off her share of scorpions).

In 1970, they moved to Blythe California where Bob worked for McCormick spices. Then, in 1976, they moved to Gilroy where Bob continued to work for McCormick, Pat raised her family, and she continued to live for the rest of her life.

In Gilroy, Pat volunteered at Glenview and Brownell elementary schools, where she taught art. After surviving breast cancer in 1988, she volunteered with the American Cancer Society. She was a very active member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Hollister, and her church family was very precious to her.

During her life she traveled to Great Britain, Italy, Morocco and Egypt. She and Bob made many cross-country drives to visit with family in Arizona, Iowa and Maryland, and to attend class reunions.

She was an avid reader, crafter, knitter, sewer and tea drinker.

She will be remembered for her welcoming nature, sharp wit, thoughtfulness, her deep and enduring love for her family, and her loving dedication to her church. Her faith gave her strength through the most difficult of times. Although she liked to be seen as prim and proper, Pat had an often bawdy sense of humor that kept her family laughing.  She looked forward with a positive attitude, and always treated people with sweetness and gratitude.

She is survived by her daughters Jean and Beth, and her grandchildren Alberto Viarengo, Nicholas Davis, Aidan Viarengo and Lindsay Davis.

She is preceded in death by her mother and father, her daughter, LuAnn, and husband Robert Alvey.

A service to celebrate Pat's life will be held at 11:00am on Saturday January 11th, 2025 at St. Lukes Episcopal Church, 720 Monterey St Hollister Ca 95023. All are welcome.

I lieu of flowers or gifts please send donations to St. Lukes Episcopal Church at the address above.