Patricia Ann Gerrity King, 77
Patricia Ann Gerrity King passed away on Jan. 24, 2017, at the Emergency Department of Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She was surrounded by loving family in a most difficult time.
She was born in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 13, 1939. She was the only child of Berenice (Hogan) and Vincent Gerrity. Patricia, (nicknamed Ann and Trish), was a strong-willed, Irish, independent trailblazer. She grew up in Wilmette, Ill. Upon graduation from Marywood High School in 1957, Trish received a full-ride scholarship to St. Mary of the Woods College in Terre Haute, Ind. She gave horse-riding lessons and was the driving force behind starting the college horse program. Trish passionately loved horses and other animals.
Trish completed a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from St. Mary of the Woods in 1961, during which time she also spent a semester abroad in Salzburg, Austria. Upon graduation, she worked as a schoolteacher in Chicago and spent her summers traveling throughout Europe. Later, she spent her summers working on pack trips in Colorado to fulfill her dreams of being in the mountains on horseback. She was the camp cook for several summers in the mountains above Aspen.
In 1968, she married Allan Bruce King Jr. They lived in Murray, Idaho, and Trish worked at Cooper School with the Spokane Public School system. They later moved to a ranch in the Cougar Gulch area of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. They had three children, Bruce, Cathy and Julie. Allan preceded her in death in 1977. Trish did not remarry. The family moved to Careywood, Idaho, in 1982, and then a few years later to Sagle, Idaho.
Trish was a teacher at Southside Elementary School for over 20 years where she inspired many students. After retirement, she moved to Deer Park, Wash., and then later back to northern Idaho.
Trish was blessed with a grandson in September 2014: Ward Hogan King, whom she loved and cherished more than words could ever describe.
Her children and animals were the greatest pride and joys of her life. She is survived by her three children, Allan Bruce King III (Bruce) (Brady) and grandson Ward of Coeur d’Alene; Catherine Patricia (Cathy) King of Gig Harbor, Wash.; and Julia Ann (Julie) King (Jaeger) (Bob Jaeger) and step-grandchildren Madison and Lily of Coeur d’Alene. Her husband Allan, her mother Berenice and her father Vincent preceded her in death.
She was a resourceful, very independent, brilliant, strong, resilient woman and her children and grandson currently live by and will carry on these values as she would have wished.
Trish was fond of potted plants and flowers over cut flowers. Alternatively, donations may be made in her honor to Kootenai Humane Society, the Museum of North Idaho or St. Mary of the Woods College.
A funeral mass will be 11 a.m. Saturday Feb. 4, 2017, at St. Thomas Catholic Church, 919 E. Indiana Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814. A graveside service will follow the mass at St. Thomas Cemetery, with a reception to follow at the church. Yates Funeral Homes has been entrusted with the care of arrangements. Please visit Trisha’s memorial and sign her online guestbook www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.