Patricia Annette Pyfer Clark Fairchild
Our beloved Mom & Gramma passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on August 26, 2011 from complications related to lung cancer.
Patricia was born December 20, 1930, to Harley Samuel Pyfer and Josephine Marie Anderson in Whitehall, MT.
She went to school in Whitehall, MT and graduated from Whitehall High School in 1948. After high school she attended the Butte Business College.
On September 4, 1948 she married Dana John Clark in Whitehall, MT. Together they had 6 children. They moved from Whitehall to Butte to Billings to Butte to Maxville and then to Drummond where they raised their children. Pat was involved in the PTA, worked as a waitress, a store clerk and she even tried her hand at bartending. She and Dan were part owners of the “Drummond Saw Mill” where she worked as an operator on the green chain and she said it was the hardest work she had ever done. She and Dan owned “Clarks Trailer Court” in Drummond, MT. After Dan’s death Pat attended the Missoula Vo-Tech to broaden her business skills.
On May 17, 1985 she married Floyd Charles Fairchild; together they danced, played cards and traveled the United States.
When they moved to Helena, MT, she worked for the Census Bureau, Dept of
Labor & Industry, Dept of Revenue, and volunteered at the Montana Historical
Society and the Career Training Institute.
Pat was very enthusiastic and had lots of energy, running everywhere she went. She enjoyed watching her children participate in whatever activity they were in, from stock car driving to trap shooting she was always there supporting and cheering for her family. She was a Drummond football fan and watched Drummond win 3 State Championships two of which Chase Reynolds played. She also became a U of M fan and watched Chase break the U of M touchdown record as well as completing a touchdown pass, a hometown boy done good.
With all that energy she was always up for a game of pinochle or cribbage and you had better watch out cuz if there was money on the table she will come from behind and make sure she won it from you. Pat bowled on the Senior Leagues both at Sleeping Giant Lanes and Capital Bowl and before moving to Helena, she qualified to bowl in the Nationals in Las Vegas. She was a mover and a shaker and had no time for standing still.
Pat wanted to see the Sistine Chapel her whole life but had to overcome her fear of flying, which she did, thru breathing exercises suggested by her grandson. At the ripe age of 76 years old, she traveled with the Summit Club to Italy. After
enjoying the sights and sounds of the Italian countryside she made her way to Rome and Vatician City where she got to fulfill her life long dream of seeing the Sistine Chapel. She continued to broaden her horizons and at 79 years old she braved indoor sky diving.
Pat was preceded in death by her parents, Harley & Josie, her brothers Dan, Don, Joe, sister Winona, infant son Jacob, & both husbands Dana Clark and Floyd Fairchild.
She is survived by her five children, Skip Clark (Sissy) of Helena, Mike Clark
(Penney) of Helena, Patricia Mordan (Bob) of Idaho Falls, ID, Annette Rinehart
(Ralph) of Helena, and Roland Clark of Idaho Falls, ID; 15 grandchildren and 22
great grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at Retz Funeral Home Chapel with interment to follow at Sunset Memorial Garden Cemetery. A reception will be held at the Church of Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1260 Otter Rd. after the graveside service. In Lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 209, LDS 2nd Ward, 1260 Otter Rd., Helena, MT 59602. To send a condolence or share a memory of Pat, please visit: www.retzfuneralhome.com.
Service Schedule
Service Schedule
Share
Valice Stevens says
What an amazing woman who raised a wonderful family and had a lifetime of adventures!
Mary Anne Pelkey says
Just know I care and thinking of all the memories I have of her.