Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Patricia (Pat) Coats Jacobsen passed into the next world on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2018, at OHSU in Portland, Ore. She was born Aug. 5, 1948, at The Dalles, Ore., to Chet and Reatha Coats. She joined siblings Tom and Mary, and later welcomed siblings Don and Margie.
She was born into a farming family, and she always enjoyed having her birthday during the middle of wheat harvest. She said she always felt like the end of harvest dinner was a party for her. She went to Wasco Grade School and graduated from Sherman County High School in 1966.
She studied art at University of Oregon and then Western Oregon. She was drawn home to Sherman County to marry her sweetheart, Erling Jacobsen. They were wed Sept. 18, 1970, and enjoyed 48 years of marriage. Shortly after marriage she was introduced to The Bahai Faith and it became an essential part of her being and the focus of how she chose to live her life.
Pat welcomed a son, Sol, in 1973, and a daughter, Sarah, in 1975. She was a devoted, loving, patient, involved mother who always put her kids at the forefront. With a loving village of people in her local and spiritual community, Pat and Erling raised the kids and developed lifelong friendships that continue to this day.
Pat’s friends were an integral part of her life. She made sure she spent quality time with them through experiences such as concerts, traveling, art parties and Bahai events.
She contributed in many ways to the family finances, doing the rural mail route around Wasco, Ore., for many years, baking cakes, driving school bus, and later teaching herself how to design and make vinyl signs. Her work can still be found in many places around Sherman County.
One of Pat’s life focuses was interacting with and educating children. She taught children art, spiritual education classes, spent one on one time with her nieces and nephews and welcomed two foster children into the family.
Asked to describe Pat, most people would say that she was first and foremost an artist. She was prolific in creating all kinds of artwork, painting, sewing and photography. She loved sharing art with others, hosting art groups at her house and doing projects with her grandchildren.
Pat was a naturally curious adventurer and everyone that knew her felt known and loved by her.
Pat was proceeded in death by father, Chet; and mother, Reatha. Pat is survived by husband, Erling; children, Sol (Tami), Sarah (Keith) Jacobsen Carrato; grandchildren, Knox and Ella Carrato, Jeremy Whitney, and Ashley (Dave) Seifert; great-grandchild, Ace Seifert; siblings, Tom (Karen) Coats; Mary (Bo) Coats Macnab; Don (Brenda) Coats; and Margie (Eric) Stovall.
There will be a celebration of life for Pat at the Wasco Community Center (formerly Wasco Grade School) on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018 at 11 a.m. All are welcome, please dress casual as that is what Pat would have liked.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Sherman County Scholarship Association, c/o Sherman County School District, 65912 High School Loop, Moro, Ore., 97039.
We will be creating an Art Scholarship in Pat’s name for graduating students with a particular passion for art.
“Draw me nearer unto the river that is life indeed.”
