Patricia L. “Pat” Eardley, 76, died July 31, 2007, at home after a 20-month struggle with cancer, which she waged with courage and grace.
Her memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Cloverdale Funeral Home in Boise. Inurnment will be later at the Dry Creek Cemetery.
Pat was born on June 3, 1931, to Cliff and Rose Engum in Baker City. She was the youngest of four children.
She attended Baker schools and was a 1949 graduate of Baker High School. She was a member of the Honor Society there and played the coronet in the high school band. She also taught herself to play the piano and played until later in life.
Pat married Dick Eardley in 1950 and was not only his wife, but his best friend, his soul mate and his partner. Together they raised three sons, who Pat cherished as the jewels of her life, along with her husband and grandchildren.
She worked in Baker City for a stationery store and in the office of a local dairy until the birth of her first son, when she became a stay-at-home mother.
Pat and Dick moved to Boise in 1955 where she continued to experiment with life’s adventures. Although she was unable to swim, she learned to water ski with family and friends at Payette Lakes.
She was an excellent bowler, and in her 40s, she took up snow skiing. After suffering two broken legs in the same fall, she reverted to cross country skiing and then concentrated on golf.
She became very adept at that game, won or placed high in several tournaments and had two holes in one. She was a longtime member of the Broadmore Country Club in Nampa.
As her sons grew, she returned to the workforce and in 1971 began a 22-year career with the Idaho Department of Education. She began as a secretary in the Drivers Education section and rose through the ranks, finally becoming executive secretary to Superintendent of Public Instruction Jerry Evans.
Pat served as first lady of Boise for 12 years when her husband was mayor. It was a role she was never comfortable with, preferring instead to cherish her role as a wife, mother and friend.
She was also an excellent cook, who liked nothing better than preparing meals for her family at holiday gatherings and other special occasions.
Family members expressed appreciation to Drs. Paul Montgomery and John Lung, the entire staff of nurses and technicians at Mountain States Tumor Institute and on the oncology floor at St. Luke’s Hospital.
“They all cared deeply for her and provided the best possible care to the end,” they said.
Survivors include her husband of 57 years; three sons, Rick (Kim) of McCall and Randy and Ron, both of Boise; six grandchildren, Emily Eardley-Calderon of San Antonio, Texas, Katie and Francesca of Lake Charles, La., and Dan Eardley, Mathew Eardley and Morgan Eardley, all of Boise; one great grandson, Caius Eardley-Calderon of San Antonio; her sister, Arlene Clegg of Baker City; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Arnold; and her sister, Bonnie.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, August 2, 2007
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor