Pat Christopher (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Pat was born to Lloyd and Irene Pike Higbee on July 28, 1935. She went to be with Jesus August 22, 2012, in Seymour Missouri at the age of 77 years. Pat was born in Goddard, Kansas where she attended and graduated high school. During high school, she met her future husband Don Christopher. They were May Pole King and Queen together their senior year. There were 16 in their graduating class.
Pat had polio when she was 13. It was a very critical kind of polio in the throat. Her cousin had this kind of polio at the same time, and passed away as a result. Pat was only hours away from being put in an iron lung, when she began breathing on her own. After that experience, Pat knew God wanted her to be a nurse. She later attended nursing school at Wesley School of Nursing. She and Don were married June 1st 1956, and Pat graduated from nursing school later that August. Their first home was in Goddard, Kansas. During Don’s career, they moved to several locations, finally settling in Lebanon, where she lived for 36 years.
During Pat’s nursing career, she started two school nursing programs, staffed a new hospital in Jasper, Georgia, and worked 10 years at Wallace Hospital, later Breech, in Lebanon. The last 13 years of her career were spent at LaClede County Health Dept. After she retired, she volunteered @ Crosslines for 10 years.
Don and Pat enjoyed camping, and many family vacations were spent in Colorado. After the children left home, they often traveled with their life-long friends, Maxine and Gail Meyers. They visited many states and had wonderful adventures. In addition to the states, they had the opportunity to go to Romania, Bulgaria, and seven other European countries.
Pat had a very long and active church life. Her activities throughout the years included: nursery worker, Gas, and mission groups. She and Don were long standing members of the Gideon Ministry. They were avid supporters of missions, and were able to go on a mission trip to Ecuador in 1991.
Pat loved her children, but treasured her 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. She loved to brag about each one of them, and took every opportunity she could to do so! She loved football and watching the many years her grandsons played! Many family gatherings were centered around a football field! Nothing brought more joy to her life, however, as knowing that all of her children and grandchildren had come to know the Lord.
Pat leaves a legacy of love; love of her family, and love of the Lord. She touched the hearts of nearly everyone she met. Patricia Jean Christopher will be remembered as a woman of faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these, especially to Pat, was love.
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