Patricia Holder

Patricia Holder wasn't a woman who led those around her with inspiring speeches, parables or wonderful words of encouragement. Patricia was a woman with a quiet strength, a spiritual, kind and compassionate lady, who devoted her life to her loving family. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend, and an example in her own way, an example that lives on today in all who knew her.

Patricia's story began on a warm spring day in 1938, in the little town of Paw Paw, Michigan. Those were hopeful times in this country, which was still recovering from the terrible effects of the Great Depression. On May 2, 1938, Garth and Lela (Munson) Kimble celebrated the birth of a beautiful, tiny baby girl, a daughter they named Patricia Ann.

Patricia was born as a "preemie" at Paw Paw's Lakeview Hospital, and eventually joined her family in their Mattawan home. Together with older brother Lawrence and younger siblings Sally, Dixie, Elaine, Barbara and Janice, the Kimbles were a close-knit clan. Her father worked at the Welch's plant in Mattawan, while her mother cared for the home.

As a young girl, Patricia enjoyed the outdoors, and was an active member of the 4-H Club, raising cows and her beloved horse, Tony. Her uncle Rich lived with the family, and farmed the land adjacent to their home, teaching his niece how to drive a tractor, work the grape orchard and to become a true "country girl."

Patricia attended Mattawan Schools, and when she reached Mattawan High School, her older brother Larry introduced her to Allen Holder, who would come over and play ball with him, and help around her uncle's farm. The sparks flew between them, and they began dating in the 10th grade.

Two years later, a few months before she graduated from Mattawan, Patricia and Allen were married by the Justice of the Peace in LaGrange, Indiana, on St. Patrick's Day in 1956.

The newlyweds lived with Patricia's parents for a little while, before renting an apartment in Mattawan, while they were building a home on 63rd Avenue. Al built the home by hand, along with his friend, Chuck Welch.

After they moved into their new home, it wasn't long before the young couple became parents, too. They were blessed with the birth of their daughter Linda, followed by sons Rich, Larry, Tim and Chuck, who brought them so much pride and joy over the years.

To help make ends meet, Patricia worked a variety of places over the years, including Harrison's Packing, the Clothes Basket and Honeybear, Inc. As hard as she worked, she never let her job affect job No. 1, caring for her family.

Patricia was a wonderful wife and mother, and an excellent homemaker, as well. She loved to cook, and her specialties were her wonderful baked goods, macaroni salad, and apple salad. She also had incredible gardens around her home, where she grew everything from beautiful roses, to delicious vegetables, and countless flowers that made her home a showpiece.

When her grandchildren arrived, Patricia enjoyed spending time with them more than anything. She did her grocery shopping at 4 a.m., when the store was empty, and often took her grandkids, Josh or Amber, with her for some private time with their Grandma. She doted on those kids, and always bought them something special every trip to the store.

Patricia was a woman with many interests, too, and especially enjoyed playing games. Whether it was bingo, 500 rummy, word search puzzles or card games, Patricia loved them all, and loyally watched the Price Is Right, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, too. She also loved country music, especially Conway Twitty, and took a few special trips to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville over the years, which were so memorable for her. She and Al also enjoyed visiting friends in Kissimmee, Florida, near Disney World.

Of course, Patricia was always happiest at her home, surrounded by her family and her beloved dogs, Pedro and Sammy. She loved nothing more than to gather the family together for a cookout on her back deck, or to watch the Fourth of July fireworks together.

Patricia was a woman of quiet strength and perseverance, who dealt with many health problems so bravely over the years. When she was a young woman, she was diagnosed with diabetes, which she battled her whole life. She later developed stomach ulcers and heart problems, and suffered some minor strokes, too. Eventually she was diagnosed with lung disease, and underwent kidney dialysis, as well.

Through it all, Patricia never complained, and always remained strong and full of faith for better days. Her faith helped her through her health problems, as well as the deaths of her son Larry in 1992, and son Charles in 2005, which were so devastating to her. Yet she persevered, with the same quiet strength and deep faith that were such an inspiration to those around her.

Sadly, Patricia's health continued to decline, and she died on Sunday, June 3, 2007, at Bronson Methodist Hospital, at the age of 69.

Patricia was a wonderful woman, a woman of such quiet strength and deep faith. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, and a friend to many over the years. Most of all, Patricia was a woman who lived her life as an example, an example that lives on today in all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.

Learn more about Pat and visit with her family and friends Wednesday from 4-8 PM at the Life Story Funeral Home-Betzler & Thompson 60900 M-40 Paw Paw 657-3870 where a service to honor and celebrate her life will be held Thursday at 2 PM. Interment Oak Grove Cemetery. Pat was preceded in death by 2 sons; Larry and Charles Holder. Members of her family include her husband Allen, 3 children; Linda (Patrick) Conner of Mattawan, Rich Holder of Lawton and Tim Holder of Marquette, MI, her mother; Lela Kimble of Mattawan, 2 grandchildren; Joshua Hall and Amber Brooks, 4 great-grandchildren; Joshua, Jacob, Nathan and Savannah, 5 sisters; Sally Harrison of Republic, MI, Dixie Saxton of Mattawan, Elaine Quan of Lawton, Barb Lounsbery of Mattawan and Janice Harrison of Kalamazoo, 1 brother; Lawrence Kimble of Allegan, several nieces and nephews. Please visit Pat's web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can share a memory or favorite photo, sign the online memory book, or make a memorial contribution to the American Diabetes Association.