Patricia "Pat" Joan (Miller) Spivey Obituary (1937 - 2021)

Patricia "Pat" Spivey, 84, of La Grande, Oregon, and formerly of Baker City, Oregon, passed away on August 17, 2021, at her residence in the Wildflower Lodge. At Pat's request, there will be no formal funeral service. A private family gathering will occur at an appropriate time following the Covid-19 pandemic. Born Patricia J. Miller on March 26th, 1937, in Detroit, Michigan, to her father Charles Dorington Miller and mother Maude Marie (Cary) Miller. Pat was a long-time resident of Baker, Oregon after moving from the Ontario - Payette area during the late 1950s. Pat married Clyde Spivey of Baker, OR in 1960. The two raised their family in Baker and remained together until Clyde's passing in 2011. Pat was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Dr. Charles D. Miller, DDS, of The Dalles, OR. Pat is survived by her brother, David Oliver (Edmonds WA), her five children, Terry Mitchell (Virginia), Robert Mitchell (Washington), Thomas Supan (Baker City, OR), Jeanne (Tammy) Supan/Curry (Portland, OR), and Deb Spivey/Koopman (La Grande, OR.), as well as 15 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. She loved going...even though she was famous for losing her car keys and being late! During the summertime, when it was hot and the kids were young, you could often find the family at the Marble Creek Picnic area, basking in the cool mountain air and the cold clear water of Marble Creek. Pat also loved vacations and built some of the best memories for her children while camping their way around Oregon. In later years Pat and Clyde could often be found in their travel trailer at the Phillips Lake Campground. Pat also loved Christmas and was known to keep her Christmas tree on display until late spring and at least once into July. The kids really looked forward to Christmas! Pat also kept her age a great secret. It wasn't until dementia set in that she admitted she wasn't "26" (as she had been for at least 50+ years after the fact). As her children began moving away from home, Pat began working at jobs outside of the home. The most notable, and favorite, was becoming the Librarian at South Baker Elementary School. Pat worked at South Baker Elementary for many years until she retired. The one job that mom bragged about the most though, was when she worked at the Hotel Baker and served room service to John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie, while they were on a political campaign and spent the night in Baker. After retirement she volunteered for the Red Cross blood drives, serving senior meals and volunteering at Saint Elizabeth Hospital. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Best Friends of Baker, your local food bank, or a charity of your choice through Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel by mailing your donation to 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.