74 years ago, September 01, 1944 Loretta Patricia (Patty) Wray was born to Virgie Lee and Clarence Nelson Wray in Crab Orchard WVA. She was their 5th child. The 1st died at birth, and then came Evelyn Carol, Olivia Hazel, and Clarence Nelson Jr.

The marriage struggled and Patty ended up living with neighbors, ‘Sweetie’ and Frank Bonham until the amazing Assembly of God she attended provided a scholarship to College. They had recognized that in both school and church she had developed her incredible vocal skills. God had heard her songs of love for Him mixed with her sorrow from abandonment. A song she sang, “Tears are a language God Understands” was a lifetime revelation.

Arriving SEBC she was soon entrenched in the music program and not only traveled with small groups and choirs on weekends, but one summer traveled 11,000 miles promoting the school with a mixed quartet.  Soon after she arrived she met the love of her life William (Bill Reese) and two years later on April 18th, 1965 they were married.

Three sons followed, William Clair, born in St. Pete, FL, Philip Todd, and Neilson Scott born in Bluefield, W.VA., where they established an Assemblies of God. They are also grandparents. Will and Tammy’s daughter is Cheyenne; Phil and Shelly’s two sons, Garrett and Preston, and Neil’s two sons with Heather, Randy and Andrew, and one daughter with Cindy Cirou Paul.

Patty, as she preferred to be called, was skilled in culinary arts, and procured many Blue Ribbons and even one Gold Medallion over the entire division.

While I was totally disabled from a bus accident, and with three young children she obtained her B.S. in Elementary Education from Bluefield State College, and later taught 3 & 4th grades and 6th &7th. But her favorite educational work was with Pre-schoolers being involved in establishing and managing 3 state licensed facilities. The family was entertained with the day’s best story, like little Jimmy crying saying, “Johnny peed on my brand new shoes!” She never said “Don’t cry”, just “Please cry a little more quietly please”.

Later when we moved to Florida, she managed the sales and service office of the family business, coordinating the activities of up to 10 employees. It was during this time in her early 40’s she was diagnosed with Parkinsonism.

Her next adventure was private duty CNA/HHA work until a serious back injury disabled her. Three back surgeries in 5 months would have stopped most people, but during that time Randy who had CP came to live with us full time, later joined by his father.

Not to be stopped by such small obstacles, she later passed her Guest Teacher Certification and worked all over the county until travel became more challenging and then she worked mostly in the same school I (Bill) taught at. If there were no openings she just volunteered for the day. She loved helping the students and they loved her.

Eight years ago she suffered from ‘Clusters of 100’s of mini-s strokes’ that disabled her right side and she was forced into retirement.  Even though she regrettably had to stay at home, as I left for work her parting words most often were, “Make it a memorable day for the children!”

After   years of Parkinsonism, and the damage from strokes, the thing most people comment on remembering about her was her smile, her sense of humor, and how happy she always was.

She was gifted at making everyone else feel special. It was the natural outflow of her spending time fellowshipping with her Heavenly Father and His son Jesus made real through the presence of Holy Spirit. She read, prayed, and sang herself happy overcoming all obstacles by the principle “In His presence is fullness of joy!”

The last weeks of her life she dropped her Bible numerous times trying to pick it up and read. She never stopped trying.

After 8 days in ICU and 6 in Hospice realizing the end was near, I started her CD one more time and she took her last breath to the lyrics “This could be the dawning of that day!”