Patricia Ann Rider Jones (also known as Pat), passed away on May 4, 2024. She was 91 years old and had lived a grand life traveling the world and spending time with her beloved family.
Patricia was born in Belleville, Kansas on April 22, 1933. She and her parents moved to Oregon when she was four years old, first stopping in California to visit family and then traveling up to Oregon (via a Model-T automobile) where they settled. One of Pat’s fondest early memories was of staying with her Uncle Vivian on his strawberry farm in Canby, Oregon and eating berries and fresh cream. She disliked having to walk to the outhouse at night and remembered a time when a young cougar decided to visit.
Patricia attended Cleveland High School (then called The High School of Commerce, which focused on business). There she learned typing and stenography and became a secretary (later known as an Administrative Assistant) at several different companies in Portland before retiring at the age of 62.
In March of 1962, Pat married Earl Berdell Jones. Both Pat and Earl loved collecting antiques and vintage cars. They also loved to travel. They were married for 27 years until Earl passed away at the age of 52. Pat never remarried. Pat and Earl had one daughter, Rebecca (Becky) Fortune.
Pat moved to the mountain in 1994 with her widowed mother Ruth Rider. She often said that she moved to Welches to be near her daughter and her growing family. She said “she was afraid she’d never get to see her grandsons if she didn’t move closer to them.” So Pat was very active in helping her daughter and growing family and remained in Welches even after all of her grandsons moved away. Pat volunteered at Welches Schools in the office and as a part of the S.M.A.RT. program (Start Making A Reader Today).
Pat was a founding member of the prestigious “Bunco Babes” mountain group that meets the second Friday of every month and has been doing so since October of 1995. She left the group in her later years, but remained friends with all of the group members until her death.
Pat loved to travel and visited Europe many times as well road-tripping across the U.S. She always loved a great vacation. The only thing that brought her back home was her family. She instilled in her grandsons a love of travel and was able to take most of them on some wonderful travels to show them the world. Pat was also instrumental in helping her grandsons financially in their educational endeavors.
Pat is survived by her daughter Becky Fortune and husband Cliff of Welches, Oregon. Her grandsons Beau Fortune (wife Jeanine) of Battle Ground, Washington, Will Fortune (wife Jordan) of Ft. Riley, Kansas, and Chuck Fortune (wife Alexis) of Gresham, Oregon, Luke Fortune (fiance Brandi Berger) of Lake Oswego, Oregon and Sean Fortune (fiance Mia Vacarro) of Redmond, Oregon. Pat also had five beautiful great-grandchildren.
Mae West said, “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough”. Indeed, Pat did it right and will be missed by all who knew her.
Patrica Ann Rider Jones 1933–2024
