Patricia Ann Mead

Patricia Ann (Hedrick) Mead passed away peacefully on May 27, 2023 in Visalia, CA. She was preceded in death in 2021 by her beloved husband, Joe, and her sister, Janet Tedder. She is survived by children Laurie Thatcher, Danna Mead, Kim Vaccaro (Chris), and Randy Mead, eleven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and numerous cherished relatives. Born in Lindsay, California on July 30, 1938 to Homer and Stella Hedrick, Pat spent her life in Tulare County, with the exception of six months in Long Beach at the age of three, when her father was employed by the Long Beach ship yards. At the age of eight, her family moved to Exeter where they ran a dairy. She attended Locust Grove Elementary School and played the violin, Exeter High School, where she enjoyed playing tennis, and the College of the Sequoias where she would meet Joe Mead, who would become her cherished husband. They were introduced by their respective best friends at the COS Giant Jamboree in September of 1955. Their first date was to the Tulare County Fair and they were married April 18, 1957. During the school years of her children, Pat was active in the PTA, helped out in their classrooms, and assisted in their various activity groups. She enjoyed gathering with neighborhood friends for a sewing group and in later years sewed costumes for her children's school performances and church productions. She joined the city's Recreation Department softball team, much to the thrill of her children, who enjoyed the team trip to Shakey's pizza after the games. In later years she began work as a teacher's aide at Ivanhoe School where she made many lifelong friends. She loved working with the students, particularly those that needed a little extra help and a little extra love. After retiring she enjoyed regular lunch gatherings with many of her former school coworkers. She enjoyed gardening throughout her life and spent many peaceful hours weeding her flowerbeds. She had a love of animals, a trait that was passed on to her children, and over the years raised countless rescued baby birds, took in stray dogs and was rarely without a sleeping cat somewhere in her home. Pat and Joe were devoted to each other and were married just short of sixty-five years. Until Joe's death, Pat's every morning began with the cup of coffee he brought to her bedside. She loved her husband, her family and her animals. She was and will forever be loved by her family and those fortunate to have known her. Graveside services will be held 12:00 PM Wednesday, June 7th, 2023 at Visalia District Cemetery, 1300 W Goshen Ave, Visalia. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Patricia Ann Mead

July 30, 1938 - May 27, 2023