Patricia Lee Mothershead

 Patricia Lee Isaacs (Mothershead) was born on January 4, 1941, the second child of Frances Marian Nail and William Wayne Isaacs. Pat grew up in Houston, Texas and was forever a proud native Texan. After a long battle with dementia, she passed away peacefully on July 10, 2024 at Sonoma House in Carrollton, Texas. 

 She was an active young lady who loved to fish and hunt with her forever hero, her daddy. A bit of a tomboy, “Pat” enjoyed playing baseball with the neighborhood boys and was even occasionally caught hanging out on a roof. Pat was a bit of a prankster and always fun. She took ballet and ballroom dance and attended many sock hops. While attending Lamar High School, she was elected the class poet. Her first love was swimming where she was a champion in the freestyle. Through her participation with the Briar Croft swim club, a team called “The Sombreros”, and the Junior Olympics, she earned many ribbons, medals and set many records. 

 As a freshman at the University of Texas, she met her future husband, John Gates Mothershead. He was the instructor in a water safety class and after the initial testing, promoted her to assistant teacher. It was love at first sight. They married on June 8,1960 at Saint Martin’s Episcopal church in Houston. While living in Tyler, Texas for John’s career as a psychology professor, they had their first child, Melinda Lee, in 1962. Their second daughter, Tricia Marie, was born in 1963 in Brownsville, Texas. In 1964, the family moved to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where their third daughter, Paige Lynn, was born in 1971. 

 During their time in Oskaloosa, Pat finished her education degree at William Penn University. Shen then taught second grade before specializing in fifth grade math and science in Eddyville, Iowa. She pursued an advanced degree from the University of Iowa later on and won a special award for her science lessons. After seeing a child in need, she and John took in a foster child from her class one year. From that point on, Jeremy held a special place in her heart. She truly had a mother’s heart. 

 Remaining faithful to her beloved Longhorns, she decorated the family den in full UT style. That’s where she watched all of the football games and loved discussing sports with the girl’s boyfriends. She even purchased a burnt orange car and named it “Bevo”. An avid reader, her favorites were medical suspense stories. Pat was a member of the P.E.O. sisterhood, St. James Episcopal church, and the Oskaloosa Country Club where she loved to play tennis. She also enjoyed sewing, crafting and gardening. Travel provided many great trips: overseas, camping, and the beach. Her favorite trips were to the Poudre Canyon, Vail, and London. 

 Most importantly, she supported her girls in any activity or venture they undertook. This included theatre, competitive marching band, cheerleading, color guard, and multiple sports . She was their number one cheerleader. “Teeta” was also very active as a grandmother. One summer, she held a ‘cousins camp’ at the Lake Keomah home in Oskaloosa. She and “Poppy” always included the entire family for their time-share vacations. 

 As loyal Texans, Pat and John retired to the bluebonnet state in 1997 to be closer to their daughters and relatives. Even though she returned to her her roots, she always had good things to say about raising the girls in Iowa. She worked at McKinney High School and then the Act Academy in McKinney for several years before retiring. She was an active member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and P.E.O. She loved caring for her daughters when grandchildren were born. 

 Pat’s husband, parents and brother, Wayne Robin Isaacs, preceded her in death. Pat is survived by daughters Melinda Blankenhorn, Tricia Foster, and Paige Sherman (Jeff), and her sister Linda Wilcox (George “Bob”). Her grandchildren are John Blankenhorn, Kelsey Rubeck (Garrett), Sarah Mathieu (Andy), Kyle Foster, Kara Odom (Blaine), Joseph Sherman, and Ben Sherman. Her two great grandchildren are Elaina Odom and Watson Rubeck who was born on the day of Pat’s death. A third great grandchild, Adler Odom, is expected in late October. She had many beloved nieces and nephews. 

 A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 27th at 1:00 p.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in McKinney, Texas (400 N. College Street). Following the service, there will be a time of fellowship and light refreshments at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be given in Pat’s name to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Office (511 Foote Street, 75069). Her final resting place will be next to her husband at Pecan Grove Cemetery in McKinney.

Services entrusted to Charles W. Smith & Sons Funeral Home of McKinney, Texas.