Patricia Lowery Bickel

Patricia Lowery Bickel, 78, of Lexington, SC passed away early Thursday morning, December 12, 2019.  With perseverance, humor, and great bravery she fought a twenty-two year battle with breast cancer.  She is survived by her high school sweetheart and husband of 58 years, Donald, her daughter Jennifer (Michael), her son Donald, Jr. (Sharon), her brother Jim (Nita), and her sister Sharon (Bob) as well as many nieces and nephews.  She is also survived by her grandchildren Andrew, Melissa (Nick), Thomas (Laura), Margaret (Matt), James (Lindsey), and her great grandchildren Isabella and Logan.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Florence Lowery.  Pat was a member of Lexington United Methodist Church, a Stephen minister, and a member of the Questors (UMW group).
Pat was born on January 27, 1941 in Jefferson City, Missouri.  She attended school there until her senior year when her family moved to Memphis, Tennessee.  She graduated her last year of high school with honors and was a member of the National Honor Society.  Following her graduation, Pat went to work for the U.S. Civil Service.  Pat and Donald were married on September 2, 1961.  Three months later, Donald was drafted and Pat followed him to his post at Fort Hood, Texas where Jennifer, their first child was born.  After Donald’s discharge, they moved back to Memphis, Tennessee.  Pat left the Civil Service when their second child, Donald, Jr. was born.  She became a lifelong homemaker and fabulous stay-at-home mom.
Donald’s job with Western Auto took them from Memphis to Gastonia, North Carolina, Baltimore, Maryland, O’Fallon, Missouri, Salina, Kansas and finally back to Gastonia, North Carolina.  While in Salina, Pat earned her nurse’s aide certification and went to work at a local nursing home.  It was a job where she found deep satisfaction helping others.  While living in Gastonia for the second time around, Pat was a member of Bethesda United Methodist Church, a volunteer for many years with Crisis Assistance Ministry (CAM), and a volunteer with the Humane Society.  Pat and Donald moved to Lexington in 2002 to be closer to family.
Pat loved her husband, her family, her friends, her church, and most of all, God.  She was generous, kind, humorous, feisty, brave, opinionated at times, a writer of stories and poems, a prolific reader, and a passionate advocate of all animals.
A memorial service will be 2:00 pm, February 8, 2020 at Lexington United Methodist Church, Lexington, SC.  The family will take Pat’s ashes back to Jefferson City, Missouri for interment at Riverview Cemetery.  Her family is deeply grateful for and appreciative of all the love, prayers, and heartfelt sympathy given during this painful time.
Memorials and contributions may be made to Palmetto Lifeline Animal Shelter, Pets, Inc., or to Lexington United Methodist Church.

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