Dates
Patricia Anne Lane St. Clair passed away at her home on April, 28, 2016. She was born August 9, 1931, in Ft. Stockton, to Joseph Thomas and Cletabes Agnes Holmes Lane. She was the granddaughter of Joseph Thomas and Allie East Lane, of Alpine, and Jack Holmes and J. Dee Holmes Rankin of Rankin. Pat and her brother, Joe, were raised by these two set of grandparents when their parents died at young ages.
Pat graduated from Alpine High School and Sul Ross State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a teaching certificate. Eager to leave Alpine for the big city, she and three of her girlfriends moved to Midland. Pat worked for Humble Oil Company/Exxon for three years. On July 8, 1954, she married Daniel Clifton St.Clair in Alpine. They lived in Alpine, Ft. Stockton, Midland, and Barnhart before settling down in Mertzon. Pat worked for several years for Kirby Lawdermilk in the Irion County Clerk's Office. She was then hired as the third grade teacher in the Mertzon school where she taught for 23 years. She retired in 1991, but remained active in the school system. She was a substitute teacher, and served on the Site-Based Committee. Pat was a very active member of the First United Methodist Church in Mertzon. She and her beloved Ladies' Prayer Group met every Wednesday morning at 6 a.m. for over 40 years. She was a member of and past Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star. She and husband Dan were volunteers with the Irion County 4-H Club, and drug their three children to every Stock Show across the state.
Never one to do nothing, Pat continued to expand her horizons. She traveled many places with Mallie Lasater, one of her best friends. She was also an entrepreneur and businesswoman. While still teaching school, Pat and two friends opened Plum Perfect Gifts at Main and Broadway in Mertzon. Later, the shop was expanded to include flowers. Pat was very creative and had a flair and knack for designing and decorating.
Pat, known as "Mommo" to all of her grandkids, was the most involved and active grandmother ever. She went on FHA trips with her oldest grandson, Dan, and went to every football and basketball game he played. When her next two grandsons came along about 10 years later, she did it all again. She traveled to every football, basketball and soccer game, and school plays and rodeos and playdays and team ropings she could get to. And then along came the granddaughter. In addition to all of the sports events, Riata commanded slumbers parties and tips to the nail salon and piano recitals. Mommo was all about fun!
Pat was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Dan, her brother, Joe Lane, her son-in-law, Clay Lindley sister and brother-in-law Billie and Fred Kessler, and brother-in-law Oscar Crawford. She is survived the three children, Nancy Herrin of Big Spring, Steven St.Clair of San Angelo, and Anne Lindley of Mertzon; four grandchildren, Dan St. Clair of San Angelo, Zach Herrin and wife Liz of Big Spring, Zane Herrin of Hebbronville and fiancé Sarah Pape of San Antonio, and Riata Lindley of Mertzon; her best friend and sister-in-law Sammie Lane of Brownwood; her extremely special sister-in-law Tommie Crawford of Midland; numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly; and her lifelong friends Frances Grice, Kathy Settle, Cheryl Hord, Stella Wolfenbarger and Kay Gothard.
The funeral service will be Saturday, April 30, at 3 p.m. and the First United Methodist Church in Mertzon, with internment following at the Mertzon Cemetery. Any memorials may be made to the First United Church in Mertzon, in the name of Patricia St. Clair.