Patsy Jean Meier

1930 - 2017

1930 was an eventful year with Albert Einstein receiving the patent for the refrigerator and the construction began on the Hoover Dam. The Chrysler Building just opened to the public and was the tallest man-made structure of its time. Al Capone was ruling the streets while Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig were making baseball history. Yet in the town of Palo Alto, Calif., James and Emma (Ferraris) Forrester welcomed their second child Patsy June 28, 1930.
Patsy's formative years were spent in Wrangell, Ala., where her father was a merchant marine and later a commercial fisherman. When called by his government, he put his tug into service. At 21 years old, her father was lost at sea while supplying naval ships during WWII. The family moved back to Palo Alto, where Patsy loved to read and wanted to see the world.
After graduation in 1948 she joined the U.S. Army, where she served as a WAC in Okinawa, Japan. This is where she met her husband Donald Meier, and in 1952 she honorably discharged to get married. Being overseas and in many countries for 10 years while her husband served in the Army, Patsy was very excited to make her home in Columbia City in 1962.
Shortly after coming to Indiana, the Meiers divorced. This didn't stop them from raising their children together. Unfortunately in 1966 Donald was killed in a freak accident. With determination, strength and faith, she would begin a long journey of raising her three children alone. Then in coming years raising children not of her own.
Patsy worked for Dana Corporation, where she was a member of the Danamites before retiring after 25 years of service. She was a long-time member of Grace Lutheran Church, where she loved ringing the bells during services. Patsy was a member of the local VFW Post 5582. Loving crafts great and small led her to be active in the leather and knitting guilds.
In 1997, she decided to move to Tennessee, where she enjoyed retirement to it fullest. Here you could sit with her while she hollered at her favorite sports. Patsy enjoyed the senior center in Knoxville, Tenn., until her health started to decline.
Patsy was a science-fiction buff and a bigger science geek, which prompted her to leave her body to the anthropology department at the University of Tennessee after her passing Aug. 27, 2017.
Patsy is survived by her children, Vicki (Tom) Bigger, of Hicksville, Ohio, Sherrie Harmon, of Oak Ridge, Tenn., Gary Meier, of Fort Myers, Fla., Jim (Cindy) Crain, of Sevierville, Tenn., Susie (Brent) Stonert, of Fort Wayne, Pam Crain, of Morristown, Tenn., and Linda Powell, of Campbellville, Ky.; granchildren, Michele Porter, of Columbia City, Robin Farber, of Roanoke, and Nick Harmon, of Knoxville, Tenn.; great-grandchildren, Tony Porter, of Fort Wayne, Jordan Porter, of Fort Wayne, Dylan Farber, of Hicksville, Ohio, and Jamie Farber, of Hicksville, Ohio; and great-great-grandchildren, Kambria, Hadlee and Nino Porter, of Fort Wayne.
She was preceded in death by both parents; sister, Lee Sempier; granddaughter, Tasha Farber; great-grandson, Cody Porter; and son-in-law, Stanley Potter.
A veterans memorial service is pending at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery in Knoxville, Tenn.