Patricia J. Garcia

PATRICIA J. GARCIA Memorial services for Patricia J. Garcia, a resident of Mancos will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 16 at the Mancos United Methodist Church. Pastor Ora Dailey will officiate. Pat was born the eldest daughter of Donald and Dortha (Gunsolley) Stoft on Dec. 26, 1931 in Omaha, Neb. She passed away at Mercy Medical Center on Friday, March 12, 2004 at the age of 72. As a single mother, Pat gave her sons a sense of where determination and drive could take them. She was proud of the accomplishments she had made from her simple upbringing. Education for herself and others was of great importance to Pat. She received her credentials in physical exercise and spent the rest of her life teaching and helping others to better their own physical abilities. After moving to the Summit Ridge area in the late 1980s Pat began teaching exercise classes to the senior citizens of Mancos. She, too, had an understanding of the healing processes received from touch and shared that with anyone who was interested in learning more. Pat moved to Mancos in 2000 and became a very involved member of the Mancos United Methodist Church and their choir. She also began teaching physical exercise to the seniors of the Southern Ute Tribe in Ignacio. Pat was a teacher, guide and mentor to many women who looked to her for help. She was caring and giving of her time and taught the importance of passing that on. Her sons remember her as an outstanding mother, especially considering the hardships that she had overcome to provide a loving home. They understand that a sense of family had been passed to Pat from her father and she, too, passed that on to them. They stated that she was always interested in what the grandchildren were doing, remembered them on special occasions, and liked staying in touch. She was most excited that a great grandchild was on the way. Surviving Pat are her sons, Andrew G. Givens and his wife, Kathleen of Blacksburg, Va. and Daniel Givens and his wife, Teresa, of Santa Maria, Calif.; grandchildren, Kasey Martin and husband, Michael of Blacksburg, Va., Kelly Givens of Radford, Va., Andrew E. Givens of Blacksburg, Va., Jonathan Givens of Blacksburg, Va., Alison Givens and fiancé, David Lake of Orchid, Calif., and Jeffrey Givens of Santa Maria, Calif.; her brother, Jack Stoft and wife, Dale of San Francisco, Calif.; her sister, Johanna Falk and husband, Pinky of Palm Desert, Calif.; and a host of friends from her church family and the surrounding communities. Memorial contributions can be made in memory of Patricia J. Garcia with the American Cancer Society.