Patricia Joan Davison (nee Gee) passed away on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2020 at McKinney Place Residential Care in Oliver, BC. She succumbed to the beastly disease (as she called it) COVID after a 19-day valiant struggle.
Patricia was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, auntie, cousin and most of all, an awesome Nana. In the words of her oldest granddaughter, Maxine: She was there for us and she loved us and I hope she knows that while we weren't physically there, we were with her and we love her.
Patricia is survived by her daughter, Valerie Davison of Newburyport, MA; son, Mark (Sherry) of Mt. Baldy, BC and their children, Maxine of Victoria, BC, Madisson of Kelowna, BC; son, Robin (Cammie) Davison and their daughter, Meara of Westbank, BC; sister, Sharon (David) West and family; brother, William (Anne) and family; sister-in-law, Jacquie Charlesworth and family as well as numerous cousins and extended family in Canada, USA and the United Kingdom.
She is predeceased by her husband, Eric Davison in February, 2000.
Patricia was born November 9, 1932 in Edmonton, AB to Reta and Jack Gee. They moved up to Yellowknife, NWT where her father was a mine engineer at CON Mines where he perished in a tragic mining accident. Patricia grew up in Yellowknife until the family moved down to Edmonton. It was here that Patricia began her 30+ year career in the airline industry, working for 3 of the major carriers. In 1952 she joined CP Air as an agent at Edmonton Municipal Airport to promote their new service as the Gateway to the North. In 1956, Patricia married Eric Davison and took time off from the industry to raise her 3 children. In 1967, Pat joined Air Canada Reservations in Edmonton, taking her training in Montreal. In 1970 Pat joined PWA (Pacific Western Airlines) in Kelowna where Mark and Valerie sometimes helped clean up the teletype messages and stamp boarding passes. In 1973 Patricia took a transfer to Vancouver Airport where after 7 years moved to the Vancouver City Ticket office. She took early retirement in 1987 after years of travel, meeting exciting people and being part of the major changes in the airline industry.
Pat’s love of singing and musicals led her to join the Sweet Adelines in Richmond where she was an active member for over 5 years. She traveled to various shows with the group but never missed the chance to participate in their annual Bake Sale fundraiser. Pat was also a member of the Red Hat society, organizing teas, hat making and enjoying all their activities.
In 1985 Eric and Pat moved to Barbados for 5 years where they enjoyed entertaining family and friends that made the trek down to see them. The price for their room and board was to bring frozen steaks and other hard to get items. Through Eric’s project, they traveled to a number of the Caribbean islands. Pat was a volunteer remedial English teacher at the local school where she often drove the children around the parking lot for a lark. Her favorite pastime was raising and showing her Boxers (dogs) in various competitions winning a number of ribbons. In 1990 Pat and Eric returned to Canada retiring in Fintry, BC, on the west side of Okanagan Lake, north of Kelowna. Patricia continued to raise their 3 boxers and welcomed her two granddaughters: Maxine and Madisson, whom she taught to dress up in her fancy clothes, love musicals, baking and to chase the boxers. Patricia also was on the board of the Fintry Delta Association organizing various plans and future growth initiatives.
After Eric’s death, Patricia made the decision to be closer to family and moved to Westbank. There she had a lovely house, still entertained visitors and tended her roses. She welcomed her third granddaughter, Meara carrying on the tradition of teaching her to love musicals, dress-up and cooking.
In 2016 Patricia moved into the Village of Smith Creek, a lovely assisted living apartment in Westbank, BC. She carried on the tradition of watching her favorite movies and decorating her house for each of the holidays, especially at Christmas with all her nutcrackers. She was famous for her Bingo winnings being all in chocolate which she had hidden away in her pockets, her walker and the blue dish. You could always count on having at least one of these when you were there. In late 2019 and early 2020 Patricia suffered a number of illnesses resulting in her transition to McKinney Place Residential Care in Oliver, BC.
Patricia, Pat, Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, Nana, Auntie, Cousin was the most loving, accepting, supportive, caring, inclusive and wickedly funny woman. She touched so many lives making them better with her laughter, hugs and her finger of fate when pointed at you could mean many things. She is greatly missed but we know she has become an angel watching over each of us and is now a member of the council of wise women who have gone before her.
To honour Patricia, Valerie, Mark and Sherry, Robin and Cammie, Maxine, Madisson and Meara implore you to follow the COVID rules of MASKING UP, SOCIALLY DISTANCING and to NOT TAKE RISKs that may impact your life, those close to you or someone you don’t know.
Arrangements: Due to COVID restrictions there is no service planned at this time. Interment of Patricia’s cremated remains will take place at a later date at Lakeview Memorial Gardens in Kelowna, BC.
The family respectively requests that anyone who wishes to express their condolences please make a donation in Patricia Davison’s name to either the BC Breast Cancer Foundation at https://bccancerfoundation.com/ or to the BC Alzheimer Society at https://alzheimer.ca/bc/en.
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