Patricia Bales Jaegers

Patricia Bales Jaegers, of Louisville, died on October 9, 2023. She was 87.
Born in Knoxville, Tennessee to Ruth and Walter Bales, Pat moved to Louisville as a teenager. She attended Atherton High School and Centre College where she excelled in her academic pursuits.
As a young mother, she lived in Aviano, Italy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and San Antonio, Texas before returning to Louisville in 1971. Along the way, she taught high school English and U.S. History at several schools, including Seneca and Eastern High Schools in Louisville. She also taught English as a second language for many years. After her retirement, she was delighted when former students returned to express their thanks for her inspiration, mentorship and encouragement. She also was a Founding Board Member of Louisville's St. Francis High School.
Pat inspired everyone with her fortitude, self-reliance and the strength of her convictions. She was well-read, sophisticated and compassionate, and she had a boundless intellectual curiosity that drove a continuing quest for knowledge and new and interesting experiences. Her love of teaching came second only to her love for, and devotion to, her family and friends. Her home was a sanctuary where a good meal and a receptive ear always waited. Pat was a kind and gracious host to the multitudes of folks who visited her in her home.
Church was enormously important to Pat, and she was an active and faithful member of Second Presbyterian Church for many years, where she was an ordained Elder and served with distinction and care for several terms on the Session. She also served on many church committees over the years.
When not involved in family or church activities, Pat was an avid traveler. She visited every state in the United States and more than fifty countries around the world. Of the many places she visited, the most beautiful and inspirational to her were Santa Fe, New Mexico and Jenny Lake in Wyoming.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her son, Kenneth R. Jaegers, Jr., M.D., her dear friends and God Parents Cotton and Minnie Bales, and her brother-in-law Gene Jaegers. Surviving her are her son, Eric Jaegers of Corona del Mar, California, her brothers Bruce Bales (Sherry) of Arden, North Carolina and Walter Bales (Gail) of Anaheim, California, her niece Tricia Davitt (Jeff) of Cumming, Georgia, her nephew Aaron of Arden, North Carolina, her former husband and caring friend, Kenneth R. Jaegers, Sr., M.D., of Louisville, and her daughter-in-law Radha of Louisville.
Her funeral will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 21, 2023, in the Sanctuary of Second Presbyterian Church. A private burial at Cave Hill Cemetery will immediately follow the funeral services.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to Buckhorn Children & Family Services in Buckhorn, Kentucky or to Second Presbyterian Church 3701 Old Brownsboro Road, Louisville, Kentucky 40207.