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PATRICIA MARIE (BERG) SIMKINS
November 2, 1968 ˜ January 7, 2019
On Monday, January 7, 2019, Patty Simkins passed away peacefully at the young age of 50 after a 4-1/2 year courageous battle with Olfactoryneuroblastoma. She was born in Coos Bay, OR to Mary and Joseph Berg.
Patty and her family moved from Coquille, OR to Corvallis, OR at the age of 8. She graduated from Crescent Valley High School in 1986 and attended Oregon State University. While attending school she worked at Safeway where she met her future husband Jason Simkins, in the summer of 1987.
Patty and Jason moved to Beaverton, OR in 1989 where Patty began her career working for Nordstrom at Washington Square Mall. She quickly rose to the management level, leaving Nordstrom in 1995 when she went to work as a workman’s comp Claims Specialist for Johnston & Culberson, Inc. She left in 1996 to begin her dream job as a stay-at-home mom after the birth of her first child, Nicholas. Marie followed in 1998 and Patty embraced every second of being a busy mom.
In September 1999, Patty and Jason moved to Vancouver, WA. As the kids grew, Patty worked periodically for Nordstrom and enjoyed staying connected to her professional friends. When her children reached the middle school age she could be found on the sidelines of basketball courts, cross country tracks and volleyball courts clapping and cheering for everyone. Patty loved the busy life of having both children in sports where she could be with them, meet new people, share stories and make lifelong friends.
Patty was known to her family as ’Patty-perfect’ because in our eye’s, she was. She was always happy, had a beautiful warm smile. Once you were her friend, you were friends for life. She handled her battle with cancer with amazing grace, strength, determination and never complained. She set personal goals for her journey and achieved them. Patty had unwavering hope, faith and belief in God. She loved and embraced her family who was everything to her.
Patty led a very active, healthy lifestyle exercising daily. She loved her daily smoothie’s, a good decaf, non-fat, no-foam latte affectionately called the ’what’s the point’ by her barista-friends at Starbucks.
Patty is survived by her husband of 27 years, Jason (Camas, WA), son Nicholas and daughter Marie. She was an amazing sister to Mary Mahorney, Joe Berg, John Berg and Kathleen Berg Lefebvre. Patty genuinely loved being and aunt to all her nieces and nephews and a cousin to her many cousins around the country. She is preceded in death by her parents.
A Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Vancouver, WA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society, Community Home Health & Hospice (Vancouver, WA) or Children’s Cancer Association (Portland, OR).
Please sign her guestbook at www.columbian.com/obits
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
4 Entries
Nick and Marie, I am so very sorry to hear about your mom. I remember seeing her at all the sporting events at Shahala and Union, when I would announce at Nick's basketball games and Marie's volleyball matches. Your mom was always there, cheering you on, even after her diagnosis. She is such an incredible example of how to live your life to the fullest with courage and grace, even when things were difficult. She left you such a legacy of love and support, and I know you will both carry that on for her. I am so sorry for your loss.
Brian Pederson
January 17, 2019
My condolences to family and friends. When we lose a loved one in death, our joyful memories of them become our treasure. May those treasures and God's promise at John 6:40 bring you a measure of comfort during this difficult time.
Shea
January 16, 2019
We had the privilege to meet Patty and Jason the summer of 2018. From the moment we met we had felt like we had known you both forever.
Patty, you touched our hearts from that first moment. You were the bravest woman during this difficult battle, and now you are in the arms of Jesus. Even though we were not able to go on our ventures as we had talked about, that vision will always be with us. Your spirit will live on with us until our end. We feel blessed that you both came into our lives
With much love,
Joyce and Denny Poncato
Joyce & Dennis Poncato
January 15, 2019
Patty was one of the first friendly neighbors I met when my family moved from Portland to Camas. She welcomed me with her sweet smile. I loved her great sense of humor and her open heart. She had so much love in her life, given and received. My condolences to her amazing kids, Jason, close family and friends.
Rachel Hamby
January 15, 2019
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Zeller Chapel of the Roses Funeral Home2107 NE BROADWAY ST, Portland, OR 97232
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