Obituary: Holden, Patricia C. (Altree Freeman)
Age 89
Patricia was born to Dale W Holden and Vella V Terry on December 28th, 1924 in Portland, OR.
A portion of her childhood was spent in Coos Bay, OR, where the awe of the ocean never left her side.
While living on the family farm near La Center, WA, LIFE Magazine published an article about her unique capabilities on November 23rd, 1942.
Her step-father, Hank Altree, was required to move to Portland for the war, so Patsy, being the oldest child, took over tending the family garden, fields of oats, alfalfa, and corn, milking 32 cows twice daily, cleaning barns, and caring for livestock, all at the age of 17 while attending high school.
From this point forward she would consistently challenge the conventional notion of what a woman SHOULD be or COULD do.
She also won a FFA plowing contest against six boys during this time, something unheard of during this time in history.
Patricia received a BS in Agriculture from WSU in 1947, her education credential from Whitworth College in 1962 and her MBS from Fort Wright College in 1968.
She married Don Freeman soon after graduating from college.
They raised three daughters, Donna Joann, Diana Lynn, and Debra Colleen, on a spectacular farm in Spokane.
Memories of this farm permeate all generations that were blessed to spend time there.
She began her teaching career in 1963 at Ferris High School in Spokane, WA.
Courses included physical science, biology, and horticulture, coaching girls cross country (winning a state title) until her retirement in 1983.
Achievements included being the first female Vo Ag teacher in WA state history, and building from scratch a saltwater aquarium for her biology class.
She was highly respected by administrators, fellow teachers, and students alike.
A teacher forever, sharing her knowledge was both what she loved and what drew others to her.
Like her mother Vella, Patsy always had a desire to travel and at the age of 62 she joined the Peace Corp spenting two years in Lesotho, Africa, working with the Farmer’s Training Center and Agriculture College.
This was one of the happiest times in her life.
Pat met many likeminded people, some still friends today.
She loved reading and writing and we are fortunate to have many of her journals dedicated to her experiences in Lesotho.
She was able to travel more after this time, but never enough for her adventurous soul.
Upon Patricia’s return, she moved to Sequim, WA where she continued her passion of gardening and birding, volunteering as a docent at the Dungeness Spit and Port Angeles Marine Lab, becoming a member of the National Audubon, Rhododendron, Native Plant Society’s, The Nature Conservancy and volunteering at the Dungeness River Center designing and planting its landscape.
In 1991, she designed and built the “cabin” of her dreams which reflects the special person she was.
Pat’s garden was her true joy and has become a peaceful refuge for family and friends.
Immense windows often allowed for conversations to be joyfully interrupted as birds would come and go.
It is obvious experiencing this paradise, ‘Grandma’ built a sanctuary for friends, for family, but more importantly, for birds.
No longer having her own sailboat thus unable to navigate waters she so deeply loved, Pat jumped at the opportunity to crew as cook with the Adventuress Schooner out of Port Townsend in 1995.
She was 71 when these two “voyages” occurred.
Pat’s family and friends loved and admired her for her spunk, independence, creativity, determination, intellect, fun-loving spirit, wealth of knowledge, and fierce environmental and political beliefs, knowing she always spoke her mind saying she did not ‘suffer fools lightly’.
Her unconditional love for her three daughters, two sons-in-laws, and four grandchildren was immense and unwavering.
Patricia was the families ‘matriarch’ having a huge influence in all their lives.
She had a very close cadre of friends, all being conscience of the wonderfully special person she was, and who provided years of wonderful memories for her.
Their consistent support in her recent struggles inspired and comforted her immensely.
Watching the Golf channel proved to be her new passion in final years, in lieu of being able to work in her garden.
Pat’s strong need for independence and living her life as she wanted was ever present, right up to the very end.
Our love, admiration and respect for her were made stronger because of this.
Family members include daughters, Diana (Kenneth) Manville, Spokane, WA, Donna (Paul) Soderberg, Hillsboro, OR, and grandchildren Christopher Soderberg, David Soderberg and Sarah (Graydon) Davis.
Patricia is preceded in death by her daughter, Debra; grandson, Matthew Manville; and ex-husband, Don Freeman.
Losing Debbie and Matthew were the darkest times in her life.
She loved them immensely.
In lieu of flowers, please donate, if desired, to the Dungeness River Audubon Society, http://www.dungenessrivercenter.org/RiverCenterEndowment.html, or Matthew Manville Memorial Scholarship Fund at Eastern Washington University, http://www.mattmanville.com/scholarship.php.
Pat Holden encouraged us all to be ‘sceptics’.