Patricia Holzhauser

Patricia Holzhauser

Died: Apr 10, 2025

Patricia "Patsy" Jeffrey Holzhauser, of Lenoir City, TN, died on April 10, 2025, from a rare form of cancer after 85 years of life.

Patsy was born in Plainfield, NJ, to Cora Magdelene Hofer and Ernest VanZant Jeffrey. After becoming the first woman to graduate from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Arts in Physics ('61), Patsy went on to work as a computer programmer at the Sandia Corporation as a part of the Manhattan Project, designing a computer program that successfully modeled the effects of underground nuclear testing. She then got a Master of Science in Mathematics at Northern Arizona University ('69) . She continued on to work for the US Geological Survey where she calibrated cameras to be taken to the moon. Later, she worked as a computer programmer for DuPont in their drug trial department. Then, she was a software engineer with the Department of Energy at the Oak Ridge Facilities for 27 years, until her retirement in 2007. She supported her family for her entire career.

Throughout her life, Patsy enjoyed traveling around the world. From hiking the Grand Canyon-her favorite national park-to visiting family in Honduras, touring the Swiss Alps, getting baptized in the Jordan River and riding a camel in the deserts of Israel at age 72, even to ziplining in her home state of Tennessee at the age of 73, Patsy led an adventurous life.

In retirement, Patsy made many new friends. She became a member of the Red Hat club, attending regular luncheons for years, and she also joined the Silver Sneakers class at Gold's Gym in Lenoir City. She often shared about how she and her gym friends would get together at Chick-fil-A after class, and the manager always knew to save them a table. Ever wanting to appreciate America's beauty, she took many bus tours around the country, making even more friends along the way. Patsy was also a beloved member of Shomair Yisrael of Knoxville, TN.

Patsy also had the privilege of being a mother to Bonnie Bartee and Rebecca Hull, as well as a grandmother to Kalen and Janel Bartee. As a grandmother, she would always get on the floor to play with her grandchildren, whether reading books or playing make-believe. One of her greatest joys was attending their marching band contests and band concerts at school.

Patsy is preceded in death by husband Nicholas David Hull, father Ernest VanZant Jeffrey, mother Cora Magdalene Hofer, sister Miriam Virginia Rehill (John), and grandparents John Patterson Jeffrey, Marie Laura Poirier, Paul Baltazar Hofer, and Wilhelmina "Minnie" Johanna Guggolz.

Patsy is survived by daughters Bonnie Lynn Bartee (Kevin) and Rebecca Eve Hull, as well as granddaughters Kalen Ania Bartee and Janel Cassidy Bartee.

Patsy's memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on May 25, 2025, at the Shomair Yisrael Messianic Congregation of Knoxville, TN.