To send Gary a card:
3349 S Saratoga Ave.
Springfield, MO 65804
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
A SMILE TO LIGHT UP THE WORLD
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
When I think of Patti Ashbaugh, I think of her SMILE! It could light up a room. She may have been small in size; I actually think petite is the more politically correct way to put it, but her smile was larger than life, and oh so genuine!
Others from the class of 1967 have reminisced about our Bluebird days. Yes, I do remember those days fondly. I remember going to Patti's farm, and I was one of the BRAVE ones who actually rode the horse!
Since leaving Indianola in 1967, I have probably only seen Patti a handful of times at our class reunions. I know I can speak for the entire class of 1967 when I say we were blessed to have our paths cross hers in this life. And in looking at her life's work, the children of Missouri and beyond have been blessed to have such an advocate working on their behalf.
My heartfelt sympathies to Gary and her children and the rest of Patti's family. I am sure she was the very best wife, partner, friend, mother and grandmother that one could ask for. Cherish your memories of this very special person.
Diane Mathias Potter
When I think of Patti Ashbaugh, I think of her SMILE! It could light up a room. She may have been small in size; I actually think petite is the more politically correct way to put it, but her smile was larger than life, and oh so genuine!
Others from the class of 1967 have reminisced about our Bluebird days. Yes, I do remember those days fondly. I remember going to Patti's farm, and I was one of the BRAVE ones who actually rode the horse!
Since leaving Indianola in 1967, I have probably only seen Patti a handful of times at our class reunions. I know I can speak for the entire class of 1967 when I say we were blessed to have our paths cross hers in this life. And in looking at her life's work, the children of Missouri and beyond have been blessed to have such an advocate working on their behalf.
My heartfelt sympathies to Gary and her children and the rest of Patti's family. I am sure she was the very best wife, partner, friend, mother and grandmother that one could ask for. Cherish your memories of this very special person.
Diane Mathias Potter
Re: Patti Ashbaugh and the diving tower @ Ahquabi
I was at 4-H camp with Patti. All week I had been working up my nerve to jump off the top of that big diving tower at Lake Ahquabi. Every day I climbed up the rickety ladder, feeling the whole structure move whenever anyone jumped off. I never could make myself jump, though, until I saw Patti do it.
I thought, "if that little squirt has enough courage to do it, so can I!" That was the first of many jumps off the tower! Joanne Croat Beck
I thought, "if that little squirt has enough courage to do it, so can I!" That was the first of many jumps off the tower! Joanne Croat Beck
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
So many memories
The Ashbaugh family lived just down the road from us so we spent many hours together. Favorite memories include sledding down our favorite hill playing "rescue 8". The goal was to stop the victim's sled before it went off the bank and into the stream below. Most of the time we made a successful rescue........but not always. When the snow was really deep we would dig a snow cave back into that same bank. Several times it caved in and we had to dig quickly to extricate the trapped victims.
One summer the Woodruff and Ashbaugh kids and Jerri Lou Sutton built a dam on the stream that ran thru our pasture. We worked really hard on it for several days and backed up a lot of water. One night it washed out and there was a big fight over whether one of the bridge builders had slipped in and torn it down. I still don't know the answer to that question but our families didn't talk for several days!
Another memory is May Day when I was about 9 or 10 years old. Roger and I had taken May baskets to the Ashbaugh house about dusk. We knocked on the door and then ran for our lives! As we ran around the back of the house I hit the clothesline and ended up flat on my back!
When I came to everyone was standing around and laughing pretty hard at my misfortune.
Then there was the winter that we decided to go skiing. Since we didn't have any skis we took barrel staves and sanded them smooth and fastened pieces of rubber inner tube to the top for foot straps. Unfortunately the "skis" weren't flat enough or slick enough and they didn't work at all. Undaunted by that failure we decided to be hockey players. Fortunately we did have skates. After scooping snow off the pond we set up buckets at each end for goals. Hockey sticks and a puck were the next issue. A corn cob worked fine as a puck. Hockey sticks were tougher to come by. We used broom handles, 2x4's, branches off of trees and anything else we could find. We played for hours and hours and then would argue about who had won over a cup of hot cocoa and cookies in the Ashbaugh kitchen.
I still use Patty as an example when I am talking with clients that have overweight pets. I tell them that everyone's metabolism is different. Then I describe Patty, my 95 pound neighbor girl who could eat me under the table and not gain an ounce. They nod their heads in agreement and then we continue the discussion. I have told Patty that story although she wasn't particularly impressed.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Gary and Patty's kids and grandkids, to Jane and Jim and the rest of her family and many friends. She was a wonderful friend and she took great joy in life. I will treasure the memories.
Denny Woodruff
One summer the Woodruff and Ashbaugh kids and Jerri Lou Sutton built a dam on the stream that ran thru our pasture. We worked really hard on it for several days and backed up a lot of water. One night it washed out and there was a big fight over whether one of the bridge builders had slipped in and torn it down. I still don't know the answer to that question but our families didn't talk for several days!
Another memory is May Day when I was about 9 or 10 years old. Roger and I had taken May baskets to the Ashbaugh house about dusk. We knocked on the door and then ran for our lives! As we ran around the back of the house I hit the clothesline and ended up flat on my back!
When I came to everyone was standing around and laughing pretty hard at my misfortune.
Then there was the winter that we decided to go skiing. Since we didn't have any skis we took barrel staves and sanded them smooth and fastened pieces of rubber inner tube to the top for foot straps. Unfortunately the "skis" weren't flat enough or slick enough and they didn't work at all. Undaunted by that failure we decided to be hockey players. Fortunately we did have skates. After scooping snow off the pond we set up buckets at each end for goals. Hockey sticks and a puck were the next issue. A corn cob worked fine as a puck. Hockey sticks were tougher to come by. We used broom handles, 2x4's, branches off of trees and anything else we could find. We played for hours and hours and then would argue about who had won over a cup of hot cocoa and cookies in the Ashbaugh kitchen.
I still use Patty as an example when I am talking with clients that have overweight pets. I tell them that everyone's metabolism is different. Then I describe Patty, my 95 pound neighbor girl who could eat me under the table and not gain an ounce. They nod their heads in agreement and then we continue the discussion. I have told Patty that story although she wasn't particularly impressed.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Gary and Patty's kids and grandkids, to Jane and Jim and the rest of her family and many friends. She was a wonderful friend and she took great joy in life. I will treasure the memories.
Denny Woodruff
Blue Birds
How can we ever forget BlueBirds? I know we went to the Ashbaugh farm in the fall. Some of the brave girls got to ride the horse, I don't think I was brave. How many of you still have your headscarf?? I do, somewhere?
So many accomplishments in such a short time, I am in awe of this strong, lovely, tiny woman!
Bless each and everyone who knew and loved her!
Terri
So many accomplishments in such a short time, I am in awe of this strong, lovely, tiny woman!
Bless each and everyone who knew and loved her!
Terri
I am sad to report that we have lost a class member -- Patti Ashbaugh Brown passed away. Helen Davitt Ripperger reported this to me and will get back to me today with more information. I will pass that along when I receive it. Keep Gary, their children and the rest of the family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.
Susie Shupe
Susie Shupe
From the Springfield News-Leader
Patricia Sue "Patti" Ashbaugh Martin
Patrica Sue "Patti" Ashbaugh Martin, Ph.D., 58, passed away April 5, in her home in Springfield, Mo., following a 2 and a 1/2 year battle with metastatic melanoma. Patti was a long-time resident of Springfield, where she worked tirelessly as a child advocate and raised five wonderful children. Always a natural with children, she pursued her goal of higher education while working with young children and nurturing her own children, imbuing them all with the same vision and attitude toward education that she possessed. The culmination of her educational quest came in 2002, with the presentation of her Ph.D. from the University of Missouri at Columbia. As proud as she was of her own educational achievements, she was proudest that all of her children have college degrees (or soon will have), and that all of her daughters and daughters-in-law hold advanced degrees. Patti's career included jobs such as preschool teacher, director of a shelter for battered women, Head Start mental health specialist, director of the Missouri State Head Start Collaboration Office and recently retired as the Director of Head Start for the Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation for the past eight years. OACAC Head Start has 37 locations in 10 counties of southwest Missouri, serving the needs of 1,600 low income children with 450 employees. Patti was a 2001 Johnson & Johnson Head Start Management Fellow. Patti also found the time to serve on many state level committees, the Greene County Board for the Developmentally Disabled and the Mayor's Commission on Children. In addition, she was a licensed professional counselor. Patti's biggest source of pride and enjoyment was always her family and many friends. Her five grandchildren held a special place in her heart and "Grammy" will forever be watching over them. She was preceded in death by her parents Max and Florence Ashbaugh of Indianola, Iowa. She is survived by her older sister, Jane McCall of Dubuque, Iowa; her younger brother, Jim Ashbaugh, Indianola, Iowa; her daughter, Dr. Jennifer Foersterling and husband, Dr. Brett Foersterling, son Josef, and twin daughters Madeleine and Natalie of St Louis, Mo.; her son, Derek Brown and wife, Alexis, and son, Thomas of Springfield, Mo.; her son, Rob Brown and wife, Andrea, and son Sam of The Woodlands, Texas; her daughter, Emily Brown of Springfield, Mo.; her step-son, Michael Brown of Springfield, Mo.; and the children's father, her partner, and best friend since 7th grade Gary Brown. A celebration of Patti's life will be held this Friday, April 11, in Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, 1947 E Seminole, Springfield, MO 65804. Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., followed by a short memorial service and then a gathering at Patti's home. In lieu of flowers, Patti and her family request that contributions be made to the OACAC Head Start Patti Martin Memorial Fund, 215 S Barnes, Springfield, MO 65802. The fund, established by Patti's family, is designated for serving the mental health needs of Head Start children in southwest Missouri.
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