Patricia Ralph Flynn, 59, passed away on April 18, 2006 after a long, courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by her family and friends at the family home in Oak Harbor.

Pat was born Sept. 21, 1946, in San Mateo, Calif., to Fred and Sallie Ralph. She began her education at Marist, a convent grade school in England. She then attended Brillantmont, a private girls school, in Lausanne, Switzerland for her freshman and sophomore years. Her family returned to the U.S. and equivalency testing indicated that she could complete her high school degree, which she did at Aragon High in San Mateo, Calif., graduating after only one year, at age 16. She then attended the University of Washington, graduating in 1967 with a BA in Graphic Design.

Sept. 3, 1966 marked the beginning of her 39-year marriage to John Flynn. In 1974, after several moves, the Flynn family settled in Oak Harbor where they became life long residents.

Along with raising three children and all that entails, Pat still found time to participate in civic activities. At various times she served on the Oak Harbor School Board, worked as a volunteer at the Planned Parenthood office and as a teaching assistant at local schools. She also found the energy to help on various community arts projects and served on the newly created Oak Harbor Arts Commission. True to her nature, she always helped when asked.

Pat’s creative abilities encompassed a broad range of mixed media. She was a talented artist in almost any medium, blessing many of her family and friends with gifts of her artwork. Her interest in cooking led to the creation and publication of a popular local cookbook. She was an exceptional seamstress. The wedding dress she created for her daughter was one of many projects she enjoyed. In her last few months she was able to fulfill her lifelong dream of illustrating a children’s book.

Pat is survived by her husband, John; sons Greg of Omaha, Neb., Darin of Redmond; daughter and her husband, Carrie and Jason Loeb and grandchildren Cali, Max and Ava of Ferndale; sister, Sallie and her husband Jim Horton, nephew, Scott Horton; and niece, Jennifer Ables along with countless friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Sallie Ralph and brother, Lt. Stevens Ralph, U.S. Navy.

A Memorial Service for Patricia R. Flynn will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 25, at Burley Funeral Chapel, 30 SE Ely Street, Oak Harbor.

The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, friends may like to send a memorial to a fund established in Pat’s name at the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research, 1221 Madison Street Suite 1401, Seattle, WA 98104. Phone: (800) 328-1124.