Patricia (Pat) Ann Davis, 78, died unexpectedly, yet peacefully, in her sleep from heart failure in her home in Helena on Tuesday, August 30th. She was born in Panama to Dorothy and Harold Petty on May 24, 1944, where her father worked to support the war effort fixing ships damaged in the Pacific theater. She was the first of five children.
After the war, her family spent most of their years in Florida where her mother would limit her reading to three books a week. An ambitious reader and writer, Pat graduated college at Auburn in Alabama with an English degree and then moved to Washington DC where she worked for several years at the Washington Post as a reporter. She then moved to Montana in 1970 to take a position at the Great Falls Tribune, where she fell in love with Montana. She moved to Helena in 1975 where she has lived ever since.
In her career Pat became an accomplished and prolific writer who utilized her talents in a variety of occupations, which included: Reporter for the Washington Post, then a features editor (and first female reporter) for the Great Falls Tribune, she wrote advertising for Sage Advertising in Helena (where her commercials won several awards), and later wrote radio commercials as an advertising salesperson for KMTX (where she won most creative commercial in Montana), finally, she wrote the food column for the Helena Independent Record for almost 20 years. After retirement she wrote two novels, and although never published, got to the final rounds with several publishing houses. Finally, Pat had a career in Real Estate, where she worked as a realtor for years and later built a rental properties portfolio with her husband Bill.
Pat was a world-class cook, and her recipes and cooking were known and appreciated by friends, family and her community alike. It was often said, that on any given night the best food in Helena was being served at her home.
She was also an accomplished horsewoman. She had extensive experience with both English-style jumping and Western riding. Her husband of 34 years, Bill Davis, is a Helena-area farrier, and it was their love of horses that brought them together. They met in a singles horse club, and their long life together often included trail rides and back-country horse-packing trips.
She is survived by her husband of 34 years, Bill Davis, her 44-year-old son Scott Lester as well as a brother and sister in Florida and a sister in Hawaii. In addition, she is survived by three grandchildren, Landon Lester (6), Natalie Lester (9) and Liam Lester (11) and her pet dachshund “Rebel.”
A luncheon memorial will be held at Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home at 12 p.m. Saturday, September 17th and a brochure about her life, including a couple of her favorite recipes, will be handed out at the service. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Pat.
Service Schedule
Luncheon
12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday September 17, 2022
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Luncheon
12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday September 17, 2022
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
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Mike glueckert says
So very sorry of your loss bill and family. Thoughts and prayers are with you all!
Di Pace says
I pray that beautiful memories of all the happy times will sustain you during difficult days. Blessings to you & your family ♥️🙏♥️
Mary Kay Bennett says
I have Pat’s recipe for “Fried Green Tomatoes.”
Perfect recipe for this time of year.
If Pat was in a grocery store, you noticed her.
Almost always a hat to match her stunning outfit, she would be offering advice to someone in the produce department.
I am so sorry for the family, but I know she’s cooking in heaven.
Debbie and John says
Dear Bill, Johnny and I were so saddened to hear about your loss of Pat. You are in our hearts and minds. If you ever need anything, please know that we are there for you. Sincerely, Debbie and Johnny.
Jody Pace Davie says
Bill, I am so very sorry for your loss.
Sue Wilke says
Bill, I am deeply sorry to hear about Pat! My prayers are with you and your family
Judy Gardner says
Bill, so sorry for your loss. Pat was a wonderful lady and we missed her so much when she stopped having lunch with us gals.
Tommy Butler says
Bill, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Best wishes to you all.
Beverly Stiger says
So sorry to hear of Pat’s passing. She was a fun lady. She used to have lunch with a bunch of us from the Helena Trail Riders and we used to joke that we couldn’t miss lunch because we had to see what Pat was wearing! She always looked like she had just stepped out of a fashion magazine.
Bonnie & Dennis Crawford says
Bill,
Our condolences to you and your family on the passing of Pat. It was a pleasure to work with Pat in real estate and later on representing you both in the purchase of properties. So sorry for your loss.
Harvey and Janet says
Bill, We have always enjoyed our time with you and Pat at the family dinners at Becky and Scot’s home. We are deeply saddened with the terrible loss you have suffered. Losing a spouse is like loosing part of one’s self. Sending our prayers,
Harvey and Janet Worrall
John Ulberg says
Bill-
I am so saddened by Pat’s passing on. May God sustain you in this tough time.
Bob Braico says
Bill, I’m so sorry to read of your loss in this morning’s paper. I’ll always remember the weekend pack trip we took with Joh Larock to the headwaters of the Dearborn River years ago. Also, our more recent luncheons at St Pete’s with our mutual friends. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dan and Lonnie Collings says
Bill so sorry for your loss. She was a wonderful person and will be missed. Prayers to you and the family.
Kathryn Petty says
My older sister, Pat Petty Davis was one of the wittiest and accomplished woman of our world. A leader and a very upbeat personality allowed her to overcome any issues of being a “ modern woman” in every sense of the word. There was never a point in time that she would have felt like I can’t accomplish this being female. Obviously her charm and brilliant mind allowed her to be accomplished in a world that only recently embraced women of her caliber. We send our condolences to her wonderful husband, Bill and to her super accomplished son and the grandchildren. May she Rest In Peace in the arms of our Lord Jesus. Her laugh and love will always remind us of her in our hearts. Love you Sis Pat💕. Kathryn Petty and son Richard Tubman III.
Linda Keim says
We are sorry to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you .
Linda and Pat Keim
Edith Spooner Dunlap says
Pat was a member of the Quincy High School Class of 62 , Quincy, Florida. In March, 2021, Pat reached out on Classmates.com, wanting to know if we were going to have a 60th class reunion this year in 2022. A couple of months later, I saw her note on Classmates.com and have been trying to contact her ever since. We had not been able to locate Pat for years and were thrilled to know where she was and what she had been doing for the last 60 years. As recently as a couple of days ago I had called the ph# I had for her in Helena. Tonight, September 23, as a last resort, on the outside chance that Pat might be with us no longer, I decided to check the Helena obits.
My classmates and I are shocked and broken hearted about Pat. A little group of us have been ZOOMing every Sunday afternoon since the pandemic began in March of 2020. Hardly a week has passed without someone asking if we had been able to contact Pat.
To Pat’s husband, son, sisters, brother, and other family members, please know that you are in the thoughts and prayers of those classmates who remember Pat from high school and loved her. We are all SO sorry for your loss.
Mary (Clark) Thomas says
My last memory of Pat was when we we 16- 18 years old. We went horseback riding of all things. Of course, she was much more skilled at it than me. We had lots of fun though. I would never have thought she would turn out to be such an accomplished horsewoman. I am impressed, as with her whole life. I will cherish my memories of her. My thoughts and prayers are with her whole family.
Mary (Clark) Thomas
Tom Drinville says
So sorry for your loss Bill. We were just made aware of it. God be with you during this hard time. TOM AND priacilla