Patricia A. Hart

Patricia A. Hart passed away Sunday, July 23. 2023 at her home. She was 91. She was born in a small town near Moberly, Mo. She was the only child of Everett L. Hart and Lilah T. Burton Hart. She was raised in Missouri until the WWII years. The family then moved to Los Alamos, NM where her father worked as a carpenter on the apartments for the Los Alamos employees. Her mother was in charge of the employees that cleaned the apartments. Their family lived in a tiny travel trailer. Her mom set up informal schooling for the children as there was not a school available.

After the war was over the family moved to Santa Fe, NM. When Pat was a teenager, she wanted to get a job in the summertime. Her dad said, No, but added a room onto their home and opened, "Hart's Malt Shop." The family operated one of the first drive-in ice cream shops. I remember Pat saying they served homemade ice cream and fried chicken. Pat said her legs hurt so bad at night from all the running to serve customers that it kept her awake.

She attended Pepperdine University and graduated from the University of Illinois in Normal Illinois. She taught her first two years near Decatur, IL alongside her Aunt Nana Hart Baker.

After Everett built the house on Aspen Street, she moved back home. She then traveled the world during the school summer breaks.

When she was talking to Doctor Evans, he said he had a daughter, JoAnne. She was going to college and needed a place to live. He asked Pat if she had a room to rent. Pat said she did. So, JoAnne moved in and over the years, they became best friends.

Pat taught elementary school, trained new teachers for the Albuquerque School District, and was a school principal for many years. She retired to care for her father. She spent many years taking care of relatives and friends. That was followed by Pat and JoAnne having health issues.

She loved family and the Burton Reunions. At the last Reunion in 2018 that she hosted, she treated everyone to a Hot Air Balloon ride and a private evening and dinner at the Albuquerque Museum of Art while the Leonardo de Vinci display was there. She was an avid New Mexico Lobo fan. Pat was a life member of the First Church of Christ Scientist. She is survived by many Burton and Hart cousins.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, August 5, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., at FRENCH - Lomas with Candy Nortonis officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Memorial Park Cemetery in Albuquerque.