Patricia Ann "Paty" Henderson

Patricia "Paty" Ann Henderson passed away December 9, 2016 at the age of 67 at her home in Star Valley, Arizona with her husband Fred by her side. She was born on July 10, 1949 to Ina May Wood and James Hugh Jones in Mesa.

Paty grew up rural but was an avid reader, inquisitive about the wider world, and took a special interest in her Scottish roots. She received her BA in Interdisciplinary Humanities at Arizona State University, Class of 1971. She realized her dream to adventure to Scotland in 2013.

She met Fred Henderson at a street dance in Payson. She fell in love with the handsome cowboy and they married, May 19, 1978. Fred and Paty chose to raise their children in Star Valley where they could nurture them in a down-to-earth lifestyle, teaching them to care for their community as well as ranch animals that over the years included chickens, cows, horses, dogs, and cats. Paty actively supported her children in FFA and 4-H.

She was an active member of the Rim Country Celts, Daughters of Scotia for which she was a co-founder of the local chapter, and the Northern Gila County Genealogical Society. Shortly after Star Valley became a town, she was elected to the Town Council, serving from 2010 until her death. She was a liaison to the Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Payson Area Advisory Youth Council. Paty was elected Vice Mayor in 2016.

Paty was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband Fred Henderson, children Carey M. Ashley, Justin S. Henderson (Hannah Henderson), and Rose A. Henderson (Grant Evans), and grandchildren Charlie C. Evans, Riley G. Evans, Johnathan G. Ashley and Isabelle A. Ashley, and her sisters, Rin Lawless and Terri Jones.

Paty was known to friends and family for her out-spoken wisdom, droll sense of humor, and willingness to learn as well as mentor. She will be deeply missed.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am, Sunday, December 18, 2016 at Messinger Funeral Home, 302 W. Aero Dr., Payson, Arizona followed by a Celebration of Life at 1:00pm in the Community Room at Messinger's.

This obituary was originally published in the Payson Roundup.