Mary Christine Patten “Pat” Gifford died Sept. 24, 2007, at her home near Oak Harbor, 29 days short of her 98th birthday. Pat, as her friends knew her, was born Oct. 22, 1909, in Manatee, Fla., to George Castel and Annie Christine (Gates) Patten.
Pat was raised in Manatee, the descendant of four of the founding fathers of the town. She was married to Sgt. Lawrence Garner Gifford on Oct. 10, 1943. She retired from a long career in the Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office in 1983.
In 1989, she moved to Whidbey Island to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Ron Chapman. She joined the Coupeville Garden Club and was in several bridge clubs and enjoyed reading. She was a member of St. Augustine’s In-the-Woods Episcopal Church, Freeland.
Pat is survived by her daughter Mary Chapman of Oak Harbor. Her husband Lawrence Garner Gifford and son-in-law Ron Chapman preceded her in death.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2, at St. Augustine’s in-the-Woods. Pat’s daughter has suggested donations in her name to St. Augustine’s Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 11, Freeland, WA 98249. Arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.
