Patricia Anderson

Mary Patricia (Pat) Anderson

March 20, 1947 - September 17, 2024

Patricia Anderson, 77, passed away on September 17, 2024, in Provo, UT a few days after an emergency heart procedure. She was a willing organ donor and would be proud to know her legacy will continue to benefit others. Born on March 20, 1947, in Lehi, Utah, to Gleed and Gladys Wright Olsen, Pat was the only child of parents who adored her. Her early life was spent traveling the United States with her mother as an Army brat. Pat was proud of her father's military service and welcomed the title of being a "baby boomer." When her family settled in American Fork, she attended American Fork High School, where she was a member of the pep-club and was a proud Cave(wo)man.

After high school, Pat attended Utah State University for a year. She also worked at Allen's Market in American Fork where she met a cute boy with an odd nickname at the checkout stand. Melvin "Meb" Anderson later flew over her house in an airplane and asked her on a date, which she accepted. Pat and Meb were married on June 14, 1968, in the Salt Lake City, Utah temple.

As Pat and Meb started their life together she worked as a nurse at Utah Valley Hospital. They lived in American Fork and then Orem, Utah, where they made many lifetime friends. After struggling for a few years to have kids, in late 1974, Pat and Meb welcomed a young boy into their lives with the birth of Meb "Mebbie" Anderson. Five years later in 1980 Emily "Emmyboo" Anderson was born and completed their family.

In 1987 Pat and her kids lives changed when her husband Meb succumbed to colon cancer at a young age. To provide for her little family Pat went back to school taking night classes after a full day's work and finished her nursing degree. She worked as a dietician at Nutrisystem, a nurse for Dr. Henry Yeates, and taught Certified Nursing Assistant classes at various rehabilitation and long-term care centers from Provo to Salt Lake.

In 1993 Pat and her daughter Emily moved to St. George, where she worked at Red Cliffs Rehabilitation teaching classes and managing the nursing assistant program. At Red Cliffs Pat introduced her son Meb to a cute, handpicked CNA named Makenzie, who he later married. Pat and Emily utilized their time in St. George to make memories traveling to Southern California and Las Vegas on numerous adventures.

In 1998 Pat and Emily moved back to American Fork to care for her aging parents. She then taught Certified Nursing Assistant classes at Mountainland Applied Technical College where she retired from teaching in 2016. Her legacy of teaching nurse assisting techniques and compassionate care reaches far through the medical community.

Pat also had a passion for arts and crafts, and she started a successful jewelry business, traveling to other states to sell her creations. She also collected several items including windmills, chickens, sock monkeys, and at least two geese. Watching her daughter and granddaughters continue her crafting legacy brought Pat joy as her life was centered around her kids, grandkids, and her cute dog of ten years, Gracie. Pat was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many capacities. Her most memorable callings were with the young women's groups and summer camps. In recent years friendships with her neighbors, cousins, and those who came to visit were treasured by Pat.

Pat is survived by her son Meb (Makenzie) Anderson and her daughter Emily (Craig) Miner, as well as seven grandchildren - Casey, Brady and Lainee Anderson, Ashleigh (Jacob) Hansen, Melissa Kate, Jocelyn, and Nixon Miner, and her beloved dog Gracie. Pat was preceded in death by her husband Melvin K. (Meb), her parents Gleed and Gladys, a daughter Amy Melissa, and a brother John Gleed all of whom welcomed her across the veil with open arms for a joyous reunion.

Funeral services for Patricia Anderson will be held on Tuesday, September 24, at 11:00 AM at Anderson and Sons American Fork, 49 East 100 North. A viewing will be held Tuesday, at 9:45 AM at Anderson and Sons American Fork, 49 East 100 North. Burial will follow in the American Fork Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Utah Food Bank in Pat's honor.

Please share a memory on Pat's Tribute Wall at www.AndersonMortuary.com.