Patricia J. "Patty Jean" Carraher, 88, of Spalding, NE passed away Saturday, May 21, 2016 at the Boone County Health Center in Albion, NE.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at St. Michael’s Church in Spalding, NE, with Fr. Antony Thekkekara officiating. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery. Dolce-Scheef Mortuary of Spalding, NE is in charge of arrangements.

Patricia Jean Carraher was born to William J. and Kathleen (Toohey) Glesinger on June 3, 1927 at Spalding, Nebraska. She received her elementary education at country school, District 24 in Wheeler County. Her first two years of high school were in Bartlett, Nebraska where she stayed in the girls’ dormitory. She graduated from Spalding Academy in 1945 where she received certification to teach elementary school.

She spent the next three years teaching country school at District 20, Prairie Gem, in Wheeler County. In the summer of 1948 Patty Jean moved to Omaha and worked at Mutual of Omaha. She returned to Spalding and renewed her teacher’s certificate to teach at her home school, District 24, before marrying Robert P. Carraher on December 29, 1949. Pat and R.P. farmed and ranched west of Spalding. In addition to being a farmwife, she substitute taught, and weighed cattle at the Spalding Livestock Market. She also enjoyed working at Smitty’s and promoting dances at the College Inn.

Patty was very active in civic life. In the 50s she served as a lookout on Gawk Hill during the Cold War. She also took part in the political process as a member of the Canvassing Board and was involved in county conventions and Democratic caucuses in Greeley County. In addition, Pat served for many years as the Superintendent for Home Economics at the Greeley County Fair.

Patty Jean was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church and St. Anne’s Altar Society. She had a strong devotion to St. Padre Pio, which she loved to share. She was a proud member of the American Legion Auxiliary for over 60 years. Her hobbies included bowling and watching sports. She took great joy in caring for her cats and watching the birds and wildlife around the farm. Patty Jean had a love for kids and was known as “Grandma Pat” to generations of the community’s children.

Patricia is survived by her husband, R.P.; her daughter Theresa Jean (Dick)Herrera of Spalding; son Daniel Patrick (Stephanie Jo) of Kimberly, Idaho; and son Thomas Michael of Hastings. She was blessed with seven grandchildren: Jon (Vicki) Herrera; Cory (Jessica) Herrera; Eve (Phil) Rosno; Lisa (Scott) Bales; Ashley (Mike) Johnson; Lindsay Johnson; and Karlee Jo (Wade) Koepnick; and seventeen great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind sisters Rita Bishop of Lincoln and Kitty Carlin of Spalding; brother Edward Glesinger of Spalding; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Kathleen Glesinger and brother Bill (Cactus).