Patricia “Pat” Sue Meisner Pothetes

Patricia “Pat” Sue Meisner Pothetes, 80, died December 22, 2014, peacefully at her home in Lake Oswego, OR, surrounded by loved ones after battling cancer.

Pat will be remembered for her characteristic cheerful nature and a life well-lived. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, teacher and volunteer. She enjoyed the outdoors and activities such as walking the family dogs, playing the piano, crossword and puzzles, swimming, biking in Sunriver, OR, hiking and Jazzercise. Everyone also relished her povitica nut bread and buttermilk biscuits.

She was born February 15, 1934, in Kansas City, KS, to Louis P. Meisner, (b. Vienna, Austria), and Lois Cameron Meisner, (b. Matfield Green, KS). Pat attended St. Rose of Lima Grade School, and graduated from Ward High School in 1951. She married Leo J. Pothetes on June 21, 1952, and they had seven children. Pat started college when her youngest was a baby.

She graduated in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Saint Mary College, Leavenworth, KS. She began her career as a math teacher at Arrowhead Junior High School in Kansas City, KS. In 1972, she and her husband moved their family to Lake Oswego. Pat worked as a teacher at Waluga Junior High School in Lake Oswego for 25 years. During that time, she earned her master’s degree in education from Portland State University in Portland, OR. She retired in 1997.

After retirement, Pat volunteered as a teacher’s aide at Waluga, and was also a volunteer at Providence Willamette Falls Hospital in Oregon City, OR.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Louis Meisner, Jr.

She is survived by her husband, Leo, and seven children: Angela (Gary) Johnson of Vancouver, WA; Roberta (Martin) Cranswick of Bend, OR; Edward (Sally) Pothetes of Wilsonville, OR; Nicholas (Debbie) Pothetes of Stayon, OR; George Pothetes of Lake Oswego; Lois (Jeff) Nelson of Gladstone, OR; and Alex (Pam) Pothetes of Tigard, OR. She also is survived by 9 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Pat was a devout Catholic and member of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Lake Oswego for 42 years. Her funeral Mass will be 11 a.m., January 12, at Our Lady of the Lake Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to Oregon Right to Life, www.ortl.org or Providence Hospice of Portland, OR.

The family would also like to thank Providence Hospice, Portland, OR, for the kind and comforting attention given to Pat during her illness. She endured with grace and will be forever missed.

“Where the Wild Things Are” with Grandma

Godly woman, wife, sister, mother of seven
Grandma, GGMA — Definitely from heaven
Biking, hiking, swimming, too
Sequence, Rummy-O ‘til you turn blue

Crossword puzzles on the spot
Povitica parties mean a lot
Oh, Grandma… I still have to grind those nuts?!
“Well, someone has to do it — no ifs, ands or buts”

Walking the dog, quarters for golf balls
Simple Green the car windows and walls
Picking blueberries – “You reach the ones on the bottom, and I will get the top”
Swimming, walking, Jazzercise — Grandma goes non-stop!!

Warm biscuits ready to go
Gummy bears, chocolate candy – Grandma will always know
Generous — bank accounts, plants and my first tree
Making stockings, teaching, reading and beautiful jewelry

Driving up the mountain slope, Subaru slow indeed
“Lean forward!” Grandma winks, trying to pick up speed
Trips to Sunriver, smiles, what glee
Joy! Being together with the family

Math teacher, hospital volunteer, expert with the hugs, too…
Loving, caring, always sharing – Grandma, I love and admire YOU!!!

~ Amanda Wilkes, granddaughter
In Loving Memory