Patricia Jane Romero

On December 3, 2024, Patricia "Pat" "Patty" Jane Romero (90) of Globe Arizona, escaped the cruel restraints of a Parkinson's body that had imprisoned this clever, intelligent, adventurous, loving woman for over 12 years and now her restless soul is finally able to freely skip away into the universe on a new adventure.

Patty was born in Independence, Missouri, on Flag Day 1934, to Gerald and Gladys Thomas, the first of their four children. As a child, she said she always thought the flags were put out especially for her birthday, since her mother also decorated her cakes with flags. She celebrated her 90th birthday this past June on Flag Day 2024 with friends from her church, and a week later with family and friends at St. John's Episcopal Church.

Patty graduated from Oak Grove High School in Missouri in 1953, and then attended Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg, Missouri. While in college she met her husband, Manuel, in Kansas City at a Ballet performance of Swan Lake. Having ended up in adjacent seats at the Ballet, they discovered they were both in school at Central Missouri State and continued seeing each other. Christmas 1955, Manuel invited her to Arizona to meet his Mother and Grandmother, and on Christmas Day Manuel asked her to marry him by presenting Patty with a large box that contained an engagement ring. She said yes! They became Mr. & Mrs. in March 1956 after a whirlwind week in which Patty designed and sewed her wedding dress; they made their invitations together and delivered them, made their wedding cake, and learned the ceremony in Spanish. In January 1957, the first of their four children was born.

After earning her Bachelor's degree in Music at Central Missouri State, Pat went on to earn a Master's degree in English from Arizona State University and taught Jr. High, High School, and College English throughout her career.

As a young musician, Pat sang in the Sweet Adelines. She also played piano and directed the Children's Choir at the Methodist Church. She once accompanied her daughter who played an oboe solo to earn a scholarship for Music Camp. After retirement, Pat played the organ, directed and sang in the choir at St. John's Episcopal Church and participated in several years of performances of the Christmas Cantata in Globe-Miami.

Pat was creative in so many ways, and along with music she learned to do screen printing in the early 60s. Pat often enlisted family members to help with her screen printing projects over the years, making T-shirts for the running club or one of the kid's groups, creating unique family Christmas cards and Birth Announcements for their growing family. Along with a college friend, she made and sold college pennants at several Missouri Junior Colleges.

Pat fell in love at first sight with the Southwest and was always interested in Native American artwork and the plants that grew all over the state. She enjoyed attending shows of Native American paintings and other artwork and always carried around books in the glove compartment of their cars for identifying the southwestern flora she came across in her travels to all elevations of the area. She took classes in Botany of the Southwest, became a Master Gardener, helped start the Globe-Miami Farmers Market, and taught seminars about cooking with native southwestern plants. She and Manuel also started and ran the Sunrise Sunset Chili and Herb Gardens in the foothills of the Pinal Mountains for over 20 years, selling starter plants for specialty chilies, tomatoes and herbs each Spring to gardeners locally and around the valley.

Pat and Manuel enjoyed attending dances and parties with friends from the time they first met. It was not unusual for them to spend a Saturday evening dancing the night away. They also became famous for their Christmas Eve Tamale parties in Globe, where many friends and their children gathered to celebrate the season every year. No matter how crowded the house was, there was always room for one more.

Along with Manuel and her children, Pat traveled throughout 42 states in America and to seven foreign countries, including a summer trip to Australia and New Zealand with the youngest daughter, a 50th Anniversary trip to Ireland with the middle daughter's family, and 2 trips to Guatemala to bring home adopted children with the oldest daughter's family. Pat always enjoyed the new experiences and adventures, but eventually she would tell Manuel, "I want to go home," and that always meant Globe, Arizona.

Pat enjoyed countless picnics and camping trips with her family over the years. She and Manuel camped all over the Southwest and up the western side of the US, including camping along the way to visit their daughter's family in Washington State. Manuel was the idea man, and Pat didn't mind trying new ideas and making new family traditions, like camping trips with other families at Easter near the Salt River, picnics celebrating Thanksgiving at Oak Flats, and the annual Christmas tree cutting near Seven Mile Wash.

In recent years, with her reduced physical abilities, Pat really enjoyed playing all sorts of games with family when they came from Washington and Indiana, or up from the valley for visits. Although movement was difficult for her, she was still very quick mentally and often won the games they played. Pat especially loved the games the family made up for various holiday celebrations.

Pat is survived by her husband of 68 years, Manuel, her four children, Joni (Steve), Toby, Coty (Jim), Tana-Shay, three siblings, Dale (Laura), Judy, Jan, and seven grandchildren, Devin, Keegan, Brenna, Sheena, Lucas, Wesley, and Amelia.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gerald and Gladys Thomas, several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Our sad hearts are comforted, knowing that "Pat” - “Mom” - “Grandma," is finally able to walk and run and dance again, to talk and smile and laugh out loud with joy again.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

Donate to The Michael J. Fox Foundation at (give.michaeljfox.org).

The family of Patricia "Pat" Romero wants to express their heartfelt gratitude to all the wonderful Caregivers of Faubush Family Homes and to the amazing Hospice nurses of Billet, who lovingly cared for Pat this past year and allowed so much quality time for Pat and Manuel to be together. We also appreciate all the support and sympathy extended to our family by friends and relatives, as Pat ended her journey with us.

A Memorial Service for "Pat" will be held on Sunday, December 22, 2024, at 2:00 P.M. at St. John's Episcopal Church in Globe, Arizona.