Patricia “Pat” Seims

Sterling resident Patricia “Pat” Seims, 76, died Oct. 31, 2012, at her home from the effects of breast cancer.

A private service is planned at a later date.

Pat was born March 2, 1936, in Bothell, Wash., to Robert and Edna Gaynell (Calapp) Darlington. She was the eldest of seven siblings, who she helped raise on a dairy farm in Woodinville, Wash. She attended college at Central Washington in Ellensburg, studying art until she met the love of her life, Jerry. They were married Sept. 16, 1956.

Pat and Jerry moved to Alaska from Washington with four children, with one to arrive later, a Dalmatian and a Volkswagen bus on April Fool’s Day 1971.

Her family writes, “When you think of someone who radiates love and faith and lives to serve her family, that’s our mom. When you think of one half of the greatest lovebird couple to ever exist on planet Earth (for 56 years), that’s our mom. When you think of beachcombing rocky beaches with driftwood and seagulls, that’s our mom. When you think of creative care packages and creative decorating and creative art projects and creative collecting and creative everything, that’s our mom. When you think of expert sewing and expert gardening and expert cooking and expert shopping and expert nurturing, that’s our mom. When you think of spoiling 12 grandkids and five kids and one husband, that’s our mom. When you think of humility and strength and charity and love, that’s our mom. When you think of our mom, think of how much we will miss her. We love you, Mom.”

Preceding her in death was her brother, Richard “Dick” Darlington; and son-in-law, Rick Sather.

Surviving are her husband of 56 years, Jerry Seims of Sterling; children and their spouses, Ed Seims of Sterling, Gary and Debbie Seims of Homer, Sherri Sather of Soldotna, AJ and Loree Seims of Wasilla, and Kaycie and Jeff Schmelzenbach of Sterling; grandchildren, Brandi, Baylee, Tux, Tyler (TJ), Logan, Noah, Jes, Derek, JD, Kaylee, Ammon and Charlie; brothers, Bob, Ken and Jon; sisters, Sharon, Sue and Sandy; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel. An obituary and guestbook are online at alaskanfuneral.com.