[Keith Seymore]

I am sad to report that my mom passed away during the early hours this morning, due to complication from Alzheimer's/dementia. She was just a few days shy of her 85th birthday.

Patricia “Patsy Ann” Barnes Seymore was born in Kennett, Missouri on May 20, 1937, to Rosie and Glen Barnes. She was in the middle of six children total in a poor area of the country and had to pick cotton so that they would have money for shoes (although she was quite petite and couldn't pick much, so her dad allowed her to go to school instead).

She moved to Michigan after graduating from high school in 1955 and married her high school sweetheart, Van Seymore, on April 26, 1956. They had two children: me, and my younger sister Jennifer. They were married for 50 years before my dad's passing. She leaves 8 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

She started her working career with Michigan Children's Aid, in Flint, which was one of the philanthropic arms of Charles Stuart Mott's various endeavors. She then moved to the tutoring department at CS Mott Community College where she stayed until her retirement. She was a warm and friendly face to colleagues and students who attended there. She was an active member of her church, Central Baptist Church, where she taught a ladies Sunday School class for many years. A generous person, Pat volunteered at the senior center in Davison, worked at the local elections, and also knit hats and mittens to donate to those in need. She was always giving away hand-knitted items like dishcloths and headscarves to people she met, sometimes the ones she was wearing, other times returning in a week with a new item of the intended's desired color. She had many hobbies in her lifetime, including quilting, gardening, reading, and baking. She loved music and traveling, combining these interests by having a song to sing for every state line she passed through. Her home was filled with music. She was always there for us, sick or well, with a hot meal and a neat home that we could be comfortable and flourish in.

We have planned a small, very private gathering for just Jenny and me, our spouses and children, for later in the week, where I predict the stories will start in a low murmur and will crescendo into waves of raucous laughter until the funeral director will come in and ask us to please maintain some level of decorum (at least if past events are any predictor of future events).

Please think of someone you love today and cherish them, while they are living, because as you already know none of us will be around forever.

K