The News-Review, Roseburg, Oregon, 21 August 1998
Patricia Fowlkes
FOWLKES, Patricia – With her family at her side, she went to be with the Lord on August 8, 1998 after a long, valiant battle with ovarian cancer. She was born in Steel, Missouri on December 24, 1942 to Austin and Neeley Pierce. They moved to El Centro, California in 1943 where she lived until 1973 when she, her husband and children moved to beautiful Roseburg, Oregon. She was a bookkeeper for her husband's businesses for several years until going to work at Mercy Hospital in the dietary department. She worked there for eight years before retiring due to her illness. In 1995, she was the proud recipient of the American Cancer Society's “Badge of Courage” award given at the Relay for Life event. She loved life to the fullest not letting even simple moments go by unnoticed. She touched many lives with her compassion, thoughtfulness and unique style. She was devoted to the Lord, her family, her two pet sheep (Jank and Jill) and, especially her grandchildren. She regularly attended New Life Christian Center and the First Church of the Nazarene churches. She is survived by her husband Eugene Fowlkes; father and step-mother Austin and Gladyce Pierce; brothers Lloyd Pierce and Kenneth (Sandy) Pierce, of Roseburg; sisters Janet (Dick) Welty of Mulino, Glenda (Skip) Mountain of Fontana, Calif.; step-brother Glen (Norma) Rice of El Centro, Calif., Step-sister Terry Grammar of Roseburg; son Allen (Susan) Riffel of Tigard; daughter Brenda (Troy) Bates of Roseburg; step-daughter Cassandra (Barry) Bedore of Santee, Calif.; step-sons Eugene Fowlkes Jr. of Roseburg, Kenneth (Donna) Fowlkes of Winston, Woodrow (Cheryl) McBride and Randall McBride of Los Banos, Calif. And David (Abby) McBride of Ford Leonard Wood, Missouri; an extraordinary family of brother- and sister-in-laws; 13 grandchildren and one great-grandson. She was preceded to heaven by her mother Neeley Pierce; Sister-in-law Betty Pierce and granddaughter Hannah Fowlkes. Special thank you to Dr. Christensen, Dr. O'Neil and Dr. Dotters and their staff for the precious extended time they gave her, to Keith from Hospice for the late night calls and his gracious care and to her awesome friends at Mercy for the countless ways they've supporter her and us. A celebration of life service will be held at First Church of the Nazarene in Roseburg, on Saturday, August 12, 1998 at 11 a.m. With Pastor Allmand officiating.