Patricia Boleman
Patricia Ann Boleman, 81, went to be with the Lord on April 2, 2020 after many days of illness.
Pat was a native of Chattanooga who grew up in the Highland Park area as mischievous Patsy McGowan. She liked to roam the neighborhood on her bicycle with her friend Betty Kelly (McKee) and to climb over the fence at National Cemetery to explore the rock caves until the caretaker reported her to her feared and beloved Granny. She graduated high school and married her sweetheart Lee Boleman, whom she devoted her life and love to for all the days of his life. She was proud to be his full time wife and a mother to her two greatest treasures, Steven Lee and Angela. She had one purpose in life – to provide a secure and loving home for her family, the kind of home she had dreamed of as a child of divorce. She fulfilled that role in every way possible.
Pat was known for keeping a beautiful and immaculate home, gathering her family around the table every night for supper, and creating traditions to make every holiday special. She was the mother who drove her children to school and picked them up every day, despite the school bus. She attended every event, knew the details of every friendship and heartache, cheered every Friday night at Tyner High School football games making sure her #75 didn’t get hurt, and checked weekly to see if her son’s tackles made the newspaper. Summers were always spent as a family boating on Chickamauga Lake, camping in the pop-ups with Wanda & L.D. Poole, and vacationing at the beach.
After her children were grown and Lee passed away, Pat began a new life as a waitress at the Country Place Restaurant where she worked for over 20 years. She made lifelong friends among her coworkers and regular customers. She was known for her smile, her sparkling blue eyes, and her sweet and sassy attitude. Mostly she enjoyed working alongside two hostesses who happened to be her favorite ladies in the world, her mother Dot Matthews and her aunt Louise Eddings. The three white-haired ladies were a formidable force.
All of her free time and energy was devoted to the new additions in her family, her two grandchildren, Hannah and Nicholas. They were and will always be the greatest joy and delight of her life. By far, her role as “NanNan” was her favorite. Her home was the place where the family gathered for birthday parties, backyard badminton, years of Tuesday night suppers, and any other excuse to be fed, spoiled, and loved by her. Unexpectedly, in her golden years, she found a new companion in Flynn Pickens, a musician from Flint, MI whom she married in 2013. He became her life and faith partner through much laughter during the past few years and in much sorrow as her health began to fail.
Pat was hardworking, loyal, selfless, and generous to a fault. Material things held no value to her, and she never aspired to “greatness” as the world defines it. All she truly cared about was taking care of her family, and she gave that everything she had. She was an uncomplicated woman who loved fiercely and believed her loved ones could do no wrong. She was a member of Silverdale Baptist Church where she was faithfully lifted up in prayer during her 55 days of hospitalization. She did not often express her faith in words, but always in her actions. She shared the love of Jesus with her hands and feet, her hugs and heart, her unconditional love and forgiveness. Her family takes comfort now knowing that her suffering is over, her work here is done, and she is now joyfully reunited with loved ones who have gone before. Without a doubt, she is preparing her new home, planning her menu, and counting the hours until the rest of the family arrives for supper. We too will be counting the hours until we see her again.
She was preceded in death by her mother Dorothy McGowan Matthews, stepfather Buddy Matthews, and husband Lee Boleman.
She is survived by her husband Flynn Pickens, son Steven Boleman, daughter and son-in-law Angela and John Jordi, granddaughter Hannah Boleman (25) and grandson, Nicholas Boleman (20).
Due to the current Coronavirus restrictions, her remains will be buried at National Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at a later time.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Silverdale Baptist Church.
Arrangements are under the care of Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory and Florist East Chapel, 404 South Moore Rd. East Ridge, Tn. 37412.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com.