Patricia Plumtree

My Life Story Patricia Ann Volland Plumtree went home to God on January 10, 2015 at St. Alphonsus Hospital as a result of massive head injuries suffered from a fall on the ice. Her dear friends were by her side. Pat was born March 2, 1939 in Los Angeles, CA to Norman and Bernadette Browne Volland, both natives of Nebraska. In 1946, the family moved back to Nebraska where Pat attended St. Cecilia grade and high school. Her lifelong interest in music and opera began in high school. Gifted with a beautiful voice and a flair for theater, in addition to academic studies, Pat was also involved in plays and choir productions. After graduation in 1957, Pat attended Rosary College in River Forest, Illinois. She spent the summer working in the Garment District in New York City. She then transferred to Denver University in Colorado. Following in her father’s retail-related footsteps, she began working first for Livingston’s in San Francisco as a buyer. This is where she eventually met her future husband Jim Plumtree, also a buyer. Pat later began a long career with the J.C .Penney Company. They were married on June 29,1968 at St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral in Reno, NV where her parents then resided. In 1969, Jim accepted a new position in Reno, NV. Pat continued working for J.C. Penney transferring to the local store and was able to assist Jim who continued his degree in Art as a part time student. In 1973, they moved to Southern California where Jim pursued his Master’s degree in OT and Pat continued working at Penney’s. She was deeply appreciated for her natural gifts of kindness and compassion as well as her good business expertise. Upon Jim’s graduation, he was on staff at Saint Francis Hospital, Lynwood, CA. In 1979 Jim accepted a position with Elk’s Rehab in Boise, Idaho while Pat continued her work at Penney’s. In 1982, her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and Pat became increasingly involved in work for and with people with Alzheimer’s. In 1984, Pat founded the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association, a Boise/Treasure Valley Affiliate, a non-profit family support group for the victims and families of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. She was also the recipient of a Community Service Award given to her by the J.C. Penney Company. In 1986, the Idaho Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers honored Pat with the Idaho Citizen of the Year award and this was presented by Governor John Evans. Her work for persons with Alzheimer’s and their families continued and in 1987, while Merchandise Manager for Penney’s in Boise, at the Annual Retail Industry Convention, the National Retail Merchants Association (NRMA) awarded Pat the Fred Lazarus Jr. Memorial Award for her outstanding outreach. In 1987, Pat was also given the U.S. President’s Volunteer Action Award. In 1988, Pat made a mid-life career change that she refers to as the “most fulfilling that one person could ever have”. Turning her avocation into a vocation, she retired from work in retail (where she was dearly missed by many) and began to work full time for the Alzheimer’s Association at the national level. This work took her to many States where she was actively involved in encouraging and supporting local chapter leaders. Since high school days when her friends used to pour out their troubles to her, Pat has brought her natural gifts of compassion, understanding, love and zest for life to whatever work she was involved in. But with the Alzheimer’s Association, these gifts flourished as never before. In 1989, Jim’s work took them to South Bend, Indiana where they lived for 15 years. Both were working in fields which brought out their natural gifts of caring and compassion. In 2002, USC President Stephen Sample appointed Jim and Pat as USC Ambassadors and to the Board of Councilors of the School of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. In December of 2003, after 14 ½ years of service with the Alzheimer’s Association and with her 65th birthday fast approaching, Pat retired. Jim also had retired a few years earlier and was working part time. In 2004, their homing instincts led them to move back to Boise Idaho, their city of preference. They began their retired life together which consisted of a happy balance between part time work for Jim and part time volunteer work at St. Alphonsus Hospital for Pat with the remainder of their time taken up with dear friends, world travel, opera and Shakespeare. After Jim’s death in July of 2013, Pat continued combining travel, opera and volunteer work and, in Jim’s memory, began an Art for Rehab project at St. Al’s. Pat had a deep and abiding faith and appreciation for her Catholic roots, attended Mass regularly serving often as lector or Eucharistic Minister. She was very faithful to her weekly Eucharistic Holy Hour. Over the years, Pat and Jim enjoyed wonderful times making friends of long standing wherever they visited and lived. They both loved and were dearly loved by many. She is survived by her sister, Sr. Pamela Marie Volland, a Good Shepherd Sister currently serving in Beijing; sister-in-law, Kathleen Plumtree Henderson; niece, Renee Hugo and nephew, Craig Henderson. The funeral will be held on Saturday, January 17th at Holy Apostles Catholic Church, 6300 N. Meridian Rd., Meridian. There will be a rosary at 10:00 AM in the church followed by the funeral Mass at 11:00 AM, the committal service will follow at the columbarium. Please join the family for lunch which will be served in the dining room. In lieu of flowers, you may want to consider a donation to any of the following charities or one of your choice: Alzheimer’s Association; St. Alphonsus Hospital Art for Rehab project; Guadalupe Home (for crisis pregnancies in Beijing); John William Jackson Fund (Jim and Pat Plumtree Scholarship Fund). Remembrances may be left online at www.AccentFuneral.com. Services are under the direction of Accent Funeral Home, Meridian.