Patricia Ruth Underhill

1929 - 2011

Surrounded by song and the loving embrace of her family, Patricia Ruth (Lee) Underhill transitioned peacefully from this world at 5:10 a.m. December 12th following a bad fall two days earlier. Her final interaction with humanity was to experience the kindness of a good Samaritan, James Watt, who assisted her and Paul to the hospital. It is precisely the sort of thing Pat would have done herself. She was a strong, loving, vibrant woman who lived her life fully right to the end.  
Born Patricia Lee in Albany, CA on September 16th, 1929, Pat attended school in Albany and Berkeley, and began college at San Francisco State University. While still in high school, she met the love of her life, Paul Underhill, and married him two years later on February 8th, 1948. Pat and Paul's true and abiding love remains to this day, and has been the foundation of a large and loving family that includes her four surviving children, Larry Underhill (Julie) of Lodi, CA, Dan Underhill of Pacifica, Cynthia Francis (Michele) of San Francisco, and Diane Underhill Hall of Murphys. She was preceded in death by her sons Steve Underhill and Gary Underhill. Pat is also the beloved grandmother of Heather, Angie, Tom, Morgen, Miles, Quinn, Ruby, Ella, Kaiya and Jodie, and the great grandmother to Freddie (and the new one on the way).  
A singer, writer, actor, adventurer, reader, thinker and deeply loved and admired friend, Pat's life was filled with joys and sorrows brought by fully investing her heart in everything she did.  Throughout her life she actively pursued politics and religion, and in 1967 joined the Creative Initiative Foundation. Together, she and Paul spent the next 25 years committed to staying in harmony with others and with our planet through living the teachings of Jesus. In the early 1990's, Pat and Paul began attending the Montclair Presbyterian Church in Oakland CA, and again forged lifelong friends. A singer since her childhood, Pat became a member of the choir at MPC, and loved performing a wide variety of music. She also joined the writing and art clubs, and was very active politically in the MoreLight group. More recently, Pat and Paul attended the Unitarian Universalist Church in Stockton, where Pat again sang in the choir, as well as with the Delta Harmony Express. A lifelong Democrat, Pat always volunteered for causes she believed in. With Paul, she traveled to Nicaragua in her 70's to build houses and work in a impoverished community for several weeks. Though they were the oldest members of the group to participate, Pat was completely thrilled to be able to make this contribution. Travel and adventure have always been tremendous joys for Pat. Four weeks ago she and Paul took a cruise through the Panama Canal, and Pat indulged in her favorite pastime - parasailing!
There will be a Memorial Service celebrating Pat's life on Saturday, January 14th at 2:00 at Montclair Presbyterian Church, 5701 Thornhill Drive, Oakland.  Pat's ashes will be scattered in the Sierras that she loved so well.  In lieu of flowers the family asks that you honor Pat through a contribution to whatever organization or cause you believe will make a positive improvement to the world.