Patti Hein

Patti Hein
Patti Jo Hein, 89, died Saturday, September 26, 2015 peacefully at her home with her family by her side. She was born Patti Jo Poitevent on October 31, 1925 in Muskogee, Oklahoma to Essie and Clifford Poitevent. She was the 4th of 7 children and a true "Okie from Muskogee." Patti grew up during the hardships of the Great Depression and her family had to make due with very little. She graduated from high school and went to work for the local telephone company. She met her future husband, Rudy Hein, at a USO dance in 1945. Patti was a USO hostess, and attended dances and other functions as part of her hostess duties. Dating the soldiers was frowned upon, but Patti quickly fell for Rudy and was eager to start a new life. Patti moved with Rudy to his hometown, Cle Elum, WA, in December of 1945 after he was discharged from the Army. Cle Elum was a far cry from Muskogee, especially in December. She said that she cried her entire first week in Cle Elum and would have left, but she had no money. Patti and Rudy were married December 12, 1945. Their first child, Judy, arrived in 1947. In 1950, they purchased their first home in Roslyn, WA. Their second child, Jerry, was born soon after the move to Roslyn. While the children were young, Patti was a stay-at-home mom while Rudy went to work for the coal mining operations in the washer plant. As the mines began to close in the late 1950s, Rudy had a hard time finding stable work. In 1960, he began working at Shoemaker Mfg. Co. (located in the NWI building in Roslyn), and worked his way up to a foreman position. Shoemaker was struggling financially and, in 1962, Rudy struck a deal with the owner to purchase the company. Patti said she was very apprehensive about taking on debt but that Rudy had a vision for the company and needed her support. Patti immediately became a one-woman Shoemaker office; she handled purchase orders, invoices, payroll, accounting, cleaned the bathrooms and whatever else needed to be done to keep the company running. The first two years after purchasing the company were incredibly difficult. Shoemaker was in dire financial straits and Rudy and Patti worked tirelessly to establish credit with vendors, strengthen customer relationships and get the company back on track. Slowly they began to see the fruits of their labors as the company became profitable and began to grow. Patti worked for Shoemaker until 1987, when she retired to spend more time with her friends and family and to enjoy the house she and Rudy built in Cle Elum in 1984. Patti was present in 2013 when the Hein Family received the Pioneer Award for their long-standing commitment to economic development in the Upper Kittitas County.
After retirement, Patti and Rudy enjoyed trips to the Southwest in their motorhome. Patti enjoyed bowling and playing golf, bunko and pinochle with her girlfriends. She loved the Seattle Mariners and going to the casino with her special friends Mary and Marian.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Rudy, in 1992. Her greatest treasure was her family - children, Judy (Joey) Graham, and Jerry (Patricia) Hein, grandchildren, Brian Graham, Kristi (Travis) Rainwater, Claire (Beau) Nicholls, John (Penny) Hein, Annemarie (Zackary) Hill, Great-grandchildren, Kaleigh, Hannah and Devyn Rainwater, Norah and Nellie Nicholls, Patrick and Charlotte Hill, Carter and Addison Hein, brothers, Tom (Sylvia) Poitevent and Donald Poitevent.
Patti will always be remembered for her candid observations, sharp sense of humor, and outstanding pies. Although we miss her terribly, her profound love of her family is a gift that brings us comfort and peace during this difficult time. A family graveside service was held on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to a charity of your choice.