Patricia "Patty" Albers

Patricia "Patty" (Kathleen) Albers September 5, 1953 - August 19, 2009 SALEM - Patricia Albers died at home Wednesday, Aug. 19 surrounded by family after a courageous 14-month battle with cancer. She was 55. Born into the military family of William and Eulita Harper in Honshu, Japan, Patty was the fifth of six children, and eventually raised in Billings, Montana, where she met her future husband Ed Albers, who remembers proposing along the lines of "when the snow melts, I'm leaving and you can come with me or not." She graduated from Billings West High School, attended Montana State University and ultimately earned a degree from the Merritt Davis School of Business. Raising her children and taking care of her family was her first and most beloved job, but she also was known and admired by many children and adults for the decade she owned the Batter's Box sports card trading shop, which operated from three locations, the last of which was on Edgewater Street NW. She worked as an accounts receivable specialist for Holiday Retirement Corp. for more than eight years before going into business for herself. She was employed seasonally each year at various H & R Block offices in the Mid-Valley during tax time. A proud member of the Red Hat Society, Patty also was a devoted Jazzercizer, participating in the official program for more than 25 years. She attended frequently, often traveling out of her way while on trips to make sure she fit in her exercise. A resident of West Salem, Patty commuted weekly to an athletic club outside of the community to get in the official Jazzercise class. Patty is remembered for her love of arts and crafts, which she enjoyed with her daughter Ashley and her daughter-in-law Melissa. She also was fond of the Oregon Coast, especially Neskowin, where the family has a rustic cabin. She and Ed haunted art galleries, and she spent many a wonderful day hunting down garage sales with her son Brian or shopping with her daughter. She fed a series of collections including coasters, wine corks and all things Betty Boop. She was an avid gardener and a devotee of HGTV. An involved parent, Patty spent considerable time serving the schools Ashley and her brother Brian attended. Most recently, she was a member of the West Salem High School Cheer Booster Club, and served as treasurer of the West Salem High School Grad Party, Class of 2008. Her children will always remember how she never complained and never missed supporting them at their early morning or farflung wrestling matches, softball, baseball and football games. And animal lover, she was a proud pet parent and grandparent to dogs Magoo, Hank, Duke and Dutchess. And while she was known for all of the above, her family says one of her greatest and most lasting legacies is that all the while she was on this Earth, she never said a bad word about anyone. Patty is survived by Ed, her husband of nearly 35 years; daughter Ashley Albers of Salem; son Brian Albers and wife Melissa of Salem; their children and her granddaughters, Haley and Kylee Albers of Salem; daughter Elyn (Tracy) Davis of Arizona, and grandchildren Brynna, Riley and Tyler Davis of Arizona. She also is survived by brothers, William Harper III of Colorado, George Harper of Montana; sisters, Marjorie Harper of Florida, Janice Patterson of Washington, and stepmother, Rita Harper of Montana. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Leslie Stevenson. A celebration of Patty's life will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 13 at the Keizer Heritage Foundation's community center, 980 Chemawa Road N, Keizer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Patty's name to either the Willamette Humane Society of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases or the Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association. A private family burial service has already been held.