PATRICIA ANNE FITZPATRICK DOWNEY

Patricia Anne Fitzpatrick Downey, 78, entered into the house of The Lord on April 7, 2011, at Beaumont Army Medical Center, Ft. Bliss, El Paso, TX after a long illness with Alzheimer's and Healthcare Associated Pneumonia.

Pat was born June 10, 1932, in Goshen and grew up in Maybrook. Pat was preceded in death by her father, Francis J. Fitzpatrick; mother, Anna Mae Brown Fitzpatrick, and her brother, Donald James Fitzpatrick.

Pat grew up in Maybrook and was a lifelong member of the Maybrook Baptist Church. Pat graduated with honors from Maybrook High School in June of 1949 and after graduation found employment with the Mott C. Tuttle Ins. Agency in Washingtonville. Then she was employed with the Central Hudson Gas & Electric Co. in Newburgh.

In March 17, 1951 she met her husband-to-be, John Dusty Downey, an instructor at U.S.M.A., West Point, NY. John and Pat were married September 2, 1951 at the Maybrook Baptist Church. June 4, 1952 our first son, John F. arrived having been born at the Army Hospital West Point, NY. 1954 Pat and little John moved to Mittenwald, Germany and then to the U.S. Army Engineer School at Murnau, Germany, where Dusty was an instructor in engineering equipment.

In 1955 Pat returned to Maybrook with son, Michael L. was born at West Point Army Hospital. June 18, 1955 Dusty also returned to the States and again assigned as an instructor at West Point.

Pat was employed at The Surrogate Court, Goshen, with Surrogate Court Judge C.C. Coleman as a clerk in the court. Over the years the new Judges coming and going John W. Sweeney, Tom Hadaway and Irving Greene. Pat was granted early retirement so she could move to Ft. Belvoir, VA where Dusty was assigned to The Engineering Mechanical and Technical Division as an instructor. Life was short at Ft. Belvoir, VA, Dusty went to Vietnam and Pat returned to Maybrook and The Surrogate Court. Third son, Patrick A. was born at West Point on June 15, 1965 and Dusty was retired from Walter Reed Army Hospital, Washington, DC on October 1, 1965. For Pat life was good, with Dusty's retirement she in The Surrogate Court and Dusty in Law Enforcement.

In 1976 Pat retired from The Surrogate Court and transferred to Columbia, SC and was employed with The South Carolina Federal Bank as a clerk. Over the next 17 years Pat moved up in the bank as Executive Secretary to the Audit Department that had 26 branches to serve in the state of South Carolina. 1990 was sad for Pat. She was given early retirement to return to Maybrook and be with her mother, Anna who was dying of an incurable cancer. July 21, 1990 Pat's mother passed away. Pat moved back to Columbia, SC and then to our final retirement home in Milton, FL, to Pat she had her flowers and traveled to our summer place in Cherokee, NC from April to October each year, and on occasion to our place in San Felipe, Baja, Mexico.

Pat is survived by her husband and friend, John D. Downey; three sons: John F. Downey, Michael L. Downey and Patrick A. Downey; five grandchildren: Shannon M. of San Diego, CA, Ryan M. completing his PH.D. at Dallas, TX, Rebecca L., Lt. Air Force, her 2nd year medical school, Dallas, TX, Patrick L., final year high school at Torrington, CT, Amanda M., H.S., Torrington, CT and great-grandson, Jonathan F. of San Diego, CA.

Memorial service will be held at Maybrook Baptist Church on June 12, 2011 at 1 p.m.