Patricia Josephine Bailey Fenton August 20, 1940-June 27, 2024 (July 27, 2024)

Welcome & Gathering

Jesus said, I am the resurrection and I am life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet shall they live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.

Friends, we have gathered here to praise God and to witness to our faith as we celebrate the life of Patricia Fenton. We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss. May God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow….hope, in death….resurrection.

Pray

Old Testament Scripture -

Kyra and Casey Kauffman, grandchildren

Isaiah 40:28–31 NIV

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Pastoral Prayer

O God, who gave us birth, you are ever more ready to hear than we are to pray. You know our needs before we ask, and our ignorance in asking. Give to us now your grace, that as we shrink before the mystery of death, we may see the light of eternity. Speak to us once more your solemn message of life and of death. Help us to live as those who are prepared to die. And when our days here are accomplished, enable us to die as those who go forth to live, so that living or dying, our life may be in you, and that nothing in life or in death will be able to separate us from your great love in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Add prayer for family:

Amen.

Special Music - Amazing Grace - Sweet Adelines Combined Choruses

Celebration of Life

Obit

Pat was born on August 20, 1940, in Weston, West Va., to Kemper and Pauline Bailey. She graduated as salutatorian from Vinson High School in 1958, and from Marietta College in 1962, with a BS in Biology. She also completed a one-year internship in Medical Technology from Long Beach California Hospital, during which she spent one month of service at a small hospital in the desert in California. During her life, Pat was an active golfer, lettered in high school badminton, was a member of the swim team, and she also started a swim team in Williamstown, West Va. Pat and Jim married on December 21, 1963. They resided in Angola, Ind., Cleveland, Ohio, Charlotte, N.C., South Point, Ohio, Kingwood, Texas, and retired in Willis, Texas on Lake Conroe. Pat joined Sweet Adelines International in 1970, and was an active quartet and chorus member in Charlotte, South Point, and the Houston area. Joining in 1970, made her a 50-year member in 2020. She was also a lifelong member of the Methodist Church. Pat is survived by her husband, Jim Fenton; two daughters, Karla Fenton of Magnolia, Texas, and April Fenton Kauffman and her husband, Keith; and her two grandchildren, Kyra and Casey.

Jim Fenton

New Testament and Scripture - Ready by Kyra and Casey Kauffman

1 Corinthians 13:4–6 NIV

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

Pray.

Pat Fenton

It is an honor to be with you to do and to celebrate Pat’s life. Having spent plenty of time with Jim, I will say up front, Pat was a saint. What a beautiful life and what a beautiful marriage celebrating over 60 years together and raising two daughters and pouring into grandkids.

Pat was responsible for piecing together the family like a puzzle. Appropriately over the holidays she was the impetus for the family to do puzzles together where they would frame the finished product, sign it, frame it and put it up. Family did you do a puzzle yesterday? I think of that puzzle. There are not exact ways of going about a puzzle…different strategies. But there is necessary intentionality. You can spend time on a puzzle and have nothing to show for it. That was Pat’s life spending intentional energy bringing the pieces together.

From committing time to the girls and staying home, with the exception of a little childcare to get out on the golf course every now and then.

Teaching to cook

kind of teaching to sew.

Instilling values and modelling life.

She was publically and overtly compassionate showing the heart of service

Pat was an advocate, the kind of person that would crawl into a hospital bed if needed.

Bringing the puzzle together, one piece at a time.

The scripture chosen today represents Pat so well….

Scripture from Paul

This scripture from the apostle Paul is a great snapshot of what made Pat’s life special.

What is interesting is this chapter is most popular because it is often shared at weddings. But this passage, though appropriate for a man and woman to model the love described here, that is not the primary focus....

The First Letter to the Corinthians b. Love Is the Most Perfect and Only Eternal Way to Worship God, 13:1–13

The chapter is primarily about living in Christian community in a way that glorifies God, and that is by learning to treat other members of Christ’s body the way God has treated us—with self-sacrificing, other-oriented love. This is what has come to be referred to as agapē love, based on the Greek word used for it here. That word is used ten times between 13:1 and 14:1. Many Christians seem to assume that the word agapē was invented by Christ or his followers and always meant divine, Christ-like love. Although the word did come to be the preferred word among Christians for the love shown and expected by Christ, its basic meaning, is “warm regard for and interest in another.”1

This is a tough list to consider:

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 NIV

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Now, Pat, no doubt failed, dishonored at some point. kept record of wrong, or got angry easily.

But the Pat we knew, it would have been hard to find examples. I look at this list and it is overwhelming. But see Paul in this text is talking about the love of God that never fails. And when that love pervades all that we are....we can begin to live into this calling. Pat did that. And she can be an inspiration of us all to live that way too.

Finally, there is reminder of our eternal promise here in the text that gives us great hope this day:

1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

For as beautiful the life of Pat was and for as sacrificial and loving as she was…she was still only living with part of the promise. Only seeing the reflection of God like in a mirror. Today we have great hope because she now sees face to face. She is known fully and knows fully the God who created her. We have hope today in grief, because we know that Pat is with Jesus. The love that was poured out into her and through her is now complete in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Today, Pat’s is signing her puzzle. It is complete. But it lives on through each one of you as you too live lives marked by love, patience, kindness, and as you protect others.

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Benediction

The peace of God He which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.