Patricia Smith Ehlers

Dearest Benji, Chad, Mary and the rest of your wonderful family,
This is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Saying goodbye to my best friend of over 35 years. Bud was my husband, Warren´s best friend over 60 years. Bud was the best man at his second wedding then final wedding to me. They all moved to Hilton Head way back when you had to take a ferry to get there and there was only one flashing light on the island. They had their children and raised their families. They stayed best friends this whole time. I inherited the relationship when I married Warren in Beaufort over 36 years ago. I wonder what my life would have been like if we didn´t hit it off. No need to worry about that, Pat and I were like two peas in a pod. We loved our husbands, we loved our families, we loved to spend time together, we loved to cruise and especially shop together.

We started cruising right away and the memories we made are wonderful and precious. We spent so much time together and never ran out of things to laugh about or things to talk about. The boys would do their thing on the ship and we would bask in the sun with a drink with an umbrella in it. In port we would split up and Pat and I would shop, and the boys would hide from us having a drink in some hidden bar in an alley somewhere. They were always amazed that we found them even once in a basement bar in the Bahamas. Pat and I would shop for jewelry and had a "jeweler in every port". One jeweler still sends us a Christmas card every year. We always had a wonderful time full of laughter making memories I will never forget. The stories I will tell you one day.

We also met in St Augustine several times a year. The boys would play golf and Pat and I would go shopping. We usually had to have them meet us at the car to haul all the packages up of our new treasures. We would get back to the condo with a cocktail waiting on us. The boys would look on and pretend to be interested in our "show and tell" of all the bargains we found and fain excitement when we tallied up how much "money we saved them" with our sales and bargains.

I told Chad that his parents loved their boys but the grandkids trump everything. Pat could not be prouder of you boys could not have any more love for her grandchildren. Each one is unique and special to her. We would not talk for months but once we connected, we got all caught up with current events of each of us and each of you and the grandkids. We would be on the phone for hours and hours.

Warren is 91 now and can´t travel and I can´t leave him. Pat and I recently had a conversation about the two of us cruising again one day. I promise Pat, I will go to St Thomas and go to Bliss jewelers one more time for us. I am sad that you will not be with me physically, but I know you will be there with me in spirit. I can´t believe you are gone. My dearest friend. I should be there with your boys now to support them and regret that I can´t be. If God is a just God, then there is a Marshall´s in heaven, and I will see you there...

Your forever friend,
Mary Payne

Treasuring my memories of Pat and Bud both, especially when I was young and lived closer. It was always such fun to visit, filled with love and laughter, big hearts and smiles. My thoughts are with Benji and Chad and the whole family.

Sending my love, thoughts, and prayers to Grandma, Benjie, Chad, Dad, and the rest of the family. I'll miss my regular emails with Aunt Pat about Hallmark movies (and her giant emojis). She will be missed by those who knew and loved her. Donation to PanCAN made on her behalf to advance research.

I always looked up to Pat when I was very young. I will never forget when she would take me with her to Baton practice at her school. She was very special to me. I will always cherish the memories.