Patricia Weir

PAT WEIR Patricia Anne Weir had a Green Card in her wallet and carried a British Passport her entire life. Pat, as she was known to family and friends, was born in Blackheath, London, U.K. to George Ernest and Winifred Harvey Mead on July 29, 1932. She had two older brothers, Eric, who survives her and Roy who preceded her in death October 2012. Pat died serenely Sunday evening, June 23rd, at home with family by her bedside, happy to be free of earthly burdens. The only one in her extended family who ever became interested in visiting and exploring the United States, she and a girl friend flew to New York City in November 1958 and found employment. On her own she eventually travelled to California and settled in the San Jose area, met and married Howard Axel Machris in Reno, Nevada on October 9, 1961. From that union two lovely daughters made their debut, Carol in 1963 and Robin in 1965. In November 1968 Howard, a salesman, was transferred to Chico, California with a new territory to manage. Less than two years later, January 1970, Howard died from a massive heart seizure while bird hunting down near the community of Richvale. Pat supported her young family by mechanically and then electronically typesetting manuscripts for a book publisher in the San Mateo area. She made a couple of trips back to visit family in London after Howard's death and even contemplated a return to the land of her birth. Needing dental care in 1972, she made an appointment with Dr. Thurlow Weir for a dental examination. After her initial appointment, Dr. Weir called her at home and asked her out to dinner the following week, from which began a long, loving relationship. They were married in the Bidwell Presbyterian Church on September 27, 1974. Pat was an avid reader and traveler and the entire family travelled extensively throughout the western states and England, camping out in both locales when the opportunity allowed. She was a fast walker and it was very difficult for the rest of the family to maintain her gait while hiking mountain trails, exploring forests or ruined castles and cathedrals. She supported her husband by actively participating in all of his business ventures, all the while tending to the needs of her two daughters. Pat was a devoted mother to all the young people who gathered in her home. Dr. Weir's youngest daughter Melanie's age was between that of Carol's and Robin's so the three spent much time together traveling, playing or just living. Pat's greatest obsession in life were animals, large and small, of the mammalian class. She volunteered at the Chico Cat Coalition for many years supporting the organization financially as well as physically. Farm Sanctuary, a local branch located near Orland, was another of the many animal welfare organizations that she gladly supported. She foster-cared cats when it was necessary if the Chico Cat Coalition's large barn became overcrowded. If anyone would care to contribute to an animal support organization in honor of Pat's commitment to the protection of animals from harsh treatment, the Chico Cat Coalition would be a good choice. No services are planned.