Patricia E. Gathman

Patricia E. Gathman, 71, of Elgin, died Saturday, Aug. 23 at Tower Hill Healthcare Center in South Elgin.
Patty was born March 25, 1954 in Harvey, Ill., the daughter of Everett and Eugene Lasater. After graduating from Thornton Township High School, she enrolled in Illinois Wesleyan University, where she met the love of her life, David Gathman. They married in 1974 and she then transferred to Illinois State University, graduating in 1976. The couple then moved to Dave's hometown of Elgin, where she would work for two years at Poplar Creek Public Library and then 40 years at Gail Borden Public Library.
She is survived by a daughter, Mary Beth (Chris) Erickson of Elgin; a son, Matthew Gathman of Chicago; and two grandsons, Andrew and Alex Erickson.
Dave and Patty remained lovers, best friends and soulmates for 51 years. She also loved Jesus and was very active in Faith United Methodist Church of Elgin, which became Cornerstone United Methodist Church in 1998. For decades she and Dave led weekly Bible studies.
She and Dave also loved: the music of Tom Chapin, whom Dave and Patty followed to some 50 concerts all over the Midwest and they became honored to call a friend; WGN talk radio, whom they awoke to in the morning, played in the car through the day and fell asleep to at night; Sunday dinners at Dave's parental home; attending thousands of movies with her film-critic husband; Days of Our Lives, Les Miserables, The West Wing, Jeopardy!, Trivial Pursuit and Friends; fiction reading; history; and spending time with her children, grandchildren and friends.
She and Dave took nearly annual trips to vacation lakeside in Hayward, Wis., to visit Patty's retired parents in Florida, to visit Dave's retired parents near Branson, Mo., and to revisit Illinois Wesleyan for Homecoming.
They capped their travels in November 2023 with a ""bucket list"" trip to see where so many of those movies were made, in Southern California. Seven months later they celebrated their golden anniversary with a gala party at Cornerstone.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29 at Laird Funeral Home in Elgin, and from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30 at Cornerstone Church, at Russell and Muirhead roads in Elgin. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Cornerstone, followed by burial in Bluff City Cemetery in Elgin. Donations may be made to Journey of Hope Church or the Alzheimer's Association. For information 847-741-8800 or www.lairdfamilyfuneralservices.com..