Patricia Ann Erickson

1931 - 2018

Patricia Ann Erickson

Patricia Ann Erickson, 87, passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 17, 2018 in Kenmore, Washington. She was born to Ira and Ione Vermilion in Emporia, Kansas on August 20, 1931, and spent the first 12 years of her life with her parents and four brothers in Minot, ND, and Kincaid, Americus and Humboldt, Kansas; towns where her father taught high school math and shop. In May 1944 the family moved to Bremerton, Washington, where her parents worked at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard during World War II and after. Pat attended Bremerton High School, graduating in 1949. In the fall of 1949, Pat entered the University of Washington, completing two years as a Home Economics student.

In January of 1951, she met her future husband Leslie Erickson at the UW, where he was a student in the School of Dentistry. They were married on September 22, 1951 in Bremerton, Washington. They lived in Seattle until Les completed dental school in 1954, followed by a PHS residency in Baltimore, Maryland. They returned to Seattle in 1955 where Les worked as a dentist while completing graduate work at the UW in orthodontics. In 1958 they moved to Shoreline, WA where they raised their four children. Pat also volunteered with the PTA and the Children's Orthopedic Hospital Guild, and worked as an office assistant to Les at his Orthodontic office in Seattle. Pat and Les took their kids on many memorable camping and hiking trips and attended their kid's concerts, recitals and school events. They were also involved with church activities at Ronald United Methodist Church where they and their kids developed many friendships.

In 1977, they moved to Denver, Colorado, where Pat worked as an administrative assistant for a surgeon, and Les was the chairman of the Orthodontic Department at the University of Colorado. In 1984 they moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where Les taught orthodontics at the University of Nebraska from 1984 to 1996. Pat loved to bake cookies and pastries for his students for their long lab classes. They moved back to Shoreline, WA in 1998 after Les retired.

Pat loved her family, her grandkids and great-grandkids. She also loved to play the piano, listen to music, knit, sew and cook. She also collected stamps, baskets, antiques and anything connected to lighthouses.

Patricia is survived by her husband of 67 years, Leslie and her brother Glenn. She is also survived by her four children: Gerald (Linda) of Shoreline WA, Sandra (Mike) of Watamu Kenya, Gordon (Linda) of Orcas Island WA, and Elizabeth of Shoreline WA; nine grandchildren: Michael (Abbie), Stephen, Peter (Anne), Rebecca, Melissa (Tony), Kali (Tyler), Samantha (Jared), Bradley and Joe; and seven great-grandchildren: Aaron, Ashley, Molly Ann, Lucas, Zachary, Matilda and Wesley. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers John Henry, Milton and Everette.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1 pm Friday January 11, 2019 at Acacia Memorial Park, 14951 Bothell Way NE, Seattle, WA 98155. Guest Book at

www.dignitymemorial.com