Patricia R. Decatur

Patricia Richards Decatur of Chester passed away on Dec. 2, 2017, after a long fight with cancer, surrounded by her family and close friends, at the Springfield Health and Rehab Center.

She was born in Exeter, NH, March 2, 1943, the daughter of Edward N. Richards and Mary Bean Richards Ross.

She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Lee; four children Brian Decatur, of Williston, VT, Scott Decatur and his wife, Nan, of Colchester, VT, Heather Cloud and her husband, Rick, of Baltimore, VT, and Jordan Decatur and Maeve, of Burlington, VT; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. One grandson, Raymond White Jr., predeceased her.

She attended Exeter public schools, graduating in 1961. She moved to Chester in 1969 with her family. She was a member of a rope skipping troupe in Exeter during her pre-teens and took up highland dancing and the drum as a teenager. She was a member of the Granite State Highlanders Pipe band for many years. She won many medals with her highland dancing which she later taught for two years at Franklin Pierce College in Antrim, NH.

In Chester, she took up photography and won many ribbons, and later produced photo cards and many other craft items. She was a 51-year member of the Order of Eastern Star and served in many local and state offices. She also was president of the Grand Representatives Association. She was a Cub Scout den mother and mother-advisor for many terms in the Order of Rainbow for Girls and on advisory boards in Springfield and Chester. When her children were in high school, she took up housekeeping for a private estate for over 15 years retiring in 1999.

She enjoyed spending her winters in Florida where she made many friends and was often seen on her three-wheel bike with a "cat in the hat" on spreading joy as "Pat in the Hat" around the community she was in. One of her favorite things to do was to obtain lots of stuffed animals and deliver them to fire stations, ambulance and police departments to have in their vehicles to give to kids for comfort. She would often say "anything you do for a child is never wasted."

In lieu of flowers, any tributes may be made to Chester Rescue or Chester Police K-9 fund. A celebration of life for Pat will be held at MacLaomainn's Pub Great Room in Chester on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 1 p.m. All are welcome to bring your "Pat" stories.

  (Click on photo to enlarge)