Patricia Gibson
Age - 69
November 7, 2023
Patricia "Patsy" Glaser Gibson
Patricia Darlene Glaser Gibson passed away very peacefully in the early morning on Monday,
October 30, 2023, at her home on Harstine Island. She was 69. Patsy, as she was best known, was
born to Hugo (Bud) Glaser and Donnette (Eddy) Glaser on June 9, 1954, in Aberdeen, WA. As an
added bonus, Patsy brought along a twin brother with her, Vincent Donald Glaser.
At the age of 6, Patsy had a heart attack while attending school on the island. It was discovered
she had a hole in the upper chamber of her heart the size of a silver dollar. Her attending
physician was familiar with the City of Hope in California, which was where he recommended she
go for open heart surgery. Patsy, her mother Donnette, and grandmother Oda Eddy flew to
California, and she had a lifesaving surgery at the age of 7.
Patsy grew up on the island and attended junior and senior high school in Shelton. Patsy met
Jerry Ryckman while she was in high school, and they married in 1970. They welcomed a
daughter, Mindy, in 1971. This marriage ended in divorce. A few years later she married Jim
Strom, and they welcomed a son, Addam, in 1976. Although this marriage ended in divorce, they
continued to be friends until her passing.
To support herself and her children, Patsy went to work in the restaurant industry. Boy could this
lady cook and bake! She worked at the Capital Restaurant (Shelton), Tyee, Westwater Inn and
Governors House (all in Olympia) until she landed a job at Simpson Timber Company in Shelton.
She went with a friend as morale support and she ended up with a job, too!
Working at Simpson was a life changer for Patsy in so many ways. She met so many people and
gained lifelong friendships. In addition, she also met William Gibson (also known as Billy Boy)
while at the mill. They began dating in 1985 and married in 1994. Billy had a daughter, Katie, that
immediately fit right in with Mindy and Addam. Patsy and Billy just celebrated their 29th wedding
anniversary this last September. Boy, was their love for each other evident! They would randomly
grab each other in the living room and start dancing and he would just start singing random
tunes if there was no music playing.
Patsy and Billy made their home together in McCleary. Patsy thought she needed a challenge, so
in addition to being a mom and working full-time, she decided to go back to school to get her
AAS degree as a Paralegal. She graduated from South Puget Sound Community College in 1998.
She had her own business in McCleary for several years and held a couple of different legal
office/court office positions. Patsy was also a very proud member of the Harstine Grange #568. In
2000, Patsy and Billy moved to Harstine Island to care for her twin brother, Vincent, as he was
very ill with cancer. They had one year together until Vincent passed away in February 2001. She
continued to own and operate the family oyster company on Harstine Island, started originally by
her father, Bud.
Patsy was such a big-hearted person. She took care of everyone in her family and was the glue
that held them together. Patsy truly enjoyed being a mother, but being a nana and great nana
was an absolute joy for her. She always said her heart was the fullest while rocking the babies.
She enjoyed baking, sharing family memories, taking the grandkids and great grandkids on treks
around different state parks including many to McMickin Island, pretending they were pirates
while dressed up and running around on the beach, music concerts, the Nut Cracker Ballet,
movie dates, dressing up and having tea parties and taking them to the cemetery to pay respects
and clean headstones, especially after storms, to remind the kids of who their family was and tell
them stories to keep memories alive. She really enjoyed making fairy houses with twinkling lights
for the kids to find special notes and treasures the next time they came out to see her. She never
wanted them to forget these special memories. She loved to entertain company during the
holidays and summer months and would make sure there was fresh baked pie or other goodies
to enjoy.
Patsy is survived by her husband, Billy at the family home, children Mindy (Kelly) Portschy of
Shelton, Addam Strom of Shelton, Katie (Russ) Peters of McCleary, her grandchildren Trish (Jason)
Tannatt of Shelton, Billy Martin of Shelton, Katlyn (Kyson) Troy of Missouri, Emma Peters and Lily
Peters of McCleary, great-grandchildren Cyler, Addie, Aneassa, Aiden, Elliot, Jaelynn, Carley, Kol
and Emily. She has one great granddaughter due to join the family within the next week in
Missouri to granddaughter Katlyn. Patsy is also survived by her sister Suzan (Mike) Felton of
Shelton and brother Mike (Shelley) Glaser of Shelton, in addition to many nieces, nephews and
cousins. Patsy's parents, Bud Glaser and Donnette Eddy, twin brother Vincent Glaser and
granddaughter Alyssa Strom preceded her in death.
We will keep the memories close to us and share stories with the young. We love you to the
moon and back, nana! A memorial service will be held at a later time.Show more
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