Patricia Ann Fairchild
Published 3:40 pm Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Patricia Ann Fairchild, of Portland Texas, passed away on November 1, 2018. She was born January 5, 1935 in Port Arthur, Texas to Sidney and Viola Greig. She attended Port Arthur schools, where she met the love of her life, Patrick Lawrence Fairchild. She was a member of the band and drill team as well as an honor student. She very proudly wrote her class song for Thomas Jefferson High School where she graduated in 1953. She attended and graduated from Port Arthur College Business School and began her administrative career. On June 5, 1954 she married Patrick and moved to College Station, where Patrick attended Texas A&M University.
Patricia spent her career working for Dupont in Beaumont and then later in Ingleside after moving to South Texas. After retiring, Patricia devoted her time to her church community at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. She joined the St. Vincent de Paul Society, visiting those in need and providing assistance, serving for about 15 years and coordinated the homebound ministry, visiting every Sunday for prayer and Holy Communion. She and her husband Patrick volunteered for Christus Spohn Hospice, sitting with patients in their home and later providing bereavement support. They received a Caller-Times Jefferson Award for service in 2002. She and Patrick also received an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Benedict XVI in 2008.
Patricia always showed strength and grace, dealing with her blindness and the difficulties that it caused. Her love of family was unconditional and never-ending. Her faith in God helped her through the many years of blindness, the loss of her dear Patrick, and the recurrence of her cancer.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Patrick Fairchild; her sisters Shirley Badgett and Geraldine Brice. She is survived by her five children Catherine (Bill) Hulse of Carrollton, Patrick Fairchild, Jr. (Julie) of Corpus Christi, Richard Fairchild (Julie) of Hunt, Nancy Bridger of Portland, and Sandi MacLean (Scott) of Bedford; and her brother Carl Greig (Mary Carol) of Beaumont. Also her grandchildren – Blaine, Marty, and Justin Fairchild; Ricky, Lucas, and Yale Fairchild; Amanda Fairchild Robertson; Brandon and Aaron Bridger; Austin MacLean; Lauren MacLean Ward and 15 great-grandchildren plus three expected arrivals.
Visitation will be at Limbaugh Funeral Home, Portland, on Monday, November 12th, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm with a service at 6:30 pm. The funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, November 13th at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Portland, with burial following at Palms Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Portland. Pallbearers are her grandsons Blaine, Ricky, Lucas, and Yale Fairchild; Brandon and Aaron Bridger; and Austin MacLean
The family thanks Mary Havelka, Sandra Yebra, and Misty Whitley (Altus Hospice) for their loving care of Patricia during her illness. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Foundation Fighting Blindness or American Cancer Society.
Arrangements entrusted to Limbaugh Funeral Home 500 Wildcat Dr. Portland TX 78374. 361-643-6564. www.limbaughfuneralhome.com