OBITUARY Mary Patricia Gammon December 19, 1936 – November 2, 2018 This is the story of Mary Patricia Gammon. Mary Patricia was a wonderful woman that was loved, is missed, and will always be cherished. “Grammy” as she liked to be called by her grandchildren, “Pat” as she was called by her friends and family, was an amazing wife, mother, and grandmother.
Pat’s story starts on December 19, 1936, the oldest child to Jere and Mary Agnes Coleman. Pat was born in Memphis, Tennessee, where she would grow up, make many lifelong friends, and go to school. Pat attended Memphis State University where, among other accolades, she was the president of her sorority, Alpha Xi Delta, and received a degree in English literature.
Memphis is where she would meet the love of her life, Bill Gammon, of Kansas City, Missouri. Bill was a young Navy enlisted man just 18 years of age when they met. Following a whirlwind romance, the couple was married in the Catholic Church in Memphis on June 14, 1958.
Ten months later, their daughter was born. That event, occurring at the young age of 22, began a lifetime of self-sacrifice and “doing for others”. Twenty-two months later, she brought her son into the world.
As her husband rose through the corporate ranks, the family was transferred from Memphis to Sacramento, then Denver, and Houston… Each new city brought unique challenges for the young Gammon family which Pat, in her own special way, quickly turned into opportunities and adventures. At each stop in her journey, Pat formed close relationships with a number of people that went beyond the immediate neighborhood and which lasted a lifetime. In her youth, she skied, golfed, and sailed.
After the kids left home, she traveled the world with her husband. Throughout her life, she belonged to numerous bridge clubs, hosted gourmet lunch groups, and orchestrated all of the family gatherings. Pat was the original “multitasker” seamlessly juggling numerous balls in the air while accommodating everyone’s needs and interests.
Pat was a product of the old South, and, each day of her life, the quality of her upbringing was on display through the graciousness, good manners, and common decency which she provided to everyone that she met. Yet, Pat was a woman of tremendous inner strength, conviction, and uncommon fortitude. If she disagreed with you, you knew it, and, sometimes, the delivery of her message contained very few filters.
She was, in essence, the consummate “Steel Magnolia”. Loved ones that will miss Pat until they meet again include her husband of 60 years, Bill Gammon; her sister, Jere Coleman; her daughter and son-in-law, Mary Helen Bufalini and Mark Bufalini; her son, William Gammon III; and her four grandchildren: Sarah Gammon, Olivia Bufalini, Justin Gammon, and Jacquelyn Gammon. And so the story goes on until we see our Grammy and Pat again.
We love you and miss you mom. Pat requested an intimate viewing and funeral not far from her home. The family wishes to thank all of those who cared for Pat both throughout her life and during her last days.
For those who have known and loved Pat, a viewing and visitation will be held on Thursday,November 8, 2018, between the hours of 5-8:00 PM. in the “White Oak room” of the Memorial Oaks Funeral Home and Cemetery. The funeral services will be held Friday, November 9, 2018 at 2:00 PM at the Texas Liberty Chapel of the Memorial Oaks Cemetery followed by a graveside committal service.
The Memorial Oaks Funeral Home and Cemetery is located at 13001 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77079. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association in Pat’s name: Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090-6011; Ph: 1-800-272-3900; www.
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