Pat Vorse's Graveside Service

Welcome & Prayer

Obituary

Patricia Lucine Kelly Vorse, was eight-nine years old, from Castle Rock, WA when she went to be the the Lord on July 29th.

Pat was born on December 4, 1932 in Havensville, Kansas to Forrest and Neillie Kelly. She was the middle of nine children.

She was married in 1953 and had five sons. She lived fifty-two plus years in Castle Rock.

Pat was a life-long follower of Jesus, and a member of First Baptist Church Castle Rock.

She worked Castle Rock Elementary School from 1970 until retiring as the department supervisor in 1995. Pat was fondly remembered by her coworkers and hundreds of children in the community.

Pat enjoyed spending time with her family and friends more than any other activity. She also enjoyed time at the Castle Rock Senior Center, volunteering in the community, working in her yard, and cheering on the Mariners.

She is survived by her sister Donna, sons Steven, Michael and David, her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mom and dad, six sisters, one brother, and two sons, Daniel and Mark.

Pat ran the good race, setting a great example with unwavering faith, showing mercy and grace to all. She will be missed deeply.

Special Music - The 23rd Psalm

Message

As I was going through Pat’s five wishes document she very helpfully shared the songs she wanted sung at her service and what her expectations for the service were. One in particular item she shared was, in her own words, “I do not wish a long drawn out service.” So, clearly, Pat is even blessing all of you after her passing!

Since July 29th, when Pat went home to be with her Lord, I’ve been considering which passage I felt best fit Pat Vorse. Honestly, when doing funerals I have a handful of passages that are my “go to” passages. However, as I was preparing one passage that kept coming to my mind was one I’ve never used at a funeral service. However, I think you’ll agree with me that this one is fitting. But, since it’s a long passage and Pat has given me strict orders not to make this a long drawn out message, I want us to focus on five key parts that fit Pat so well.

It comes from Proverbs 31, which is often titled “The Woman Who Fears the LORD.” It tells of a woman who not only perfectly fulfills the roles that God has given her, but also has a deep and abiding faith that is an example to all others. Truly, it gives an example of a woman to be emulated by the generations that come after her.

Proverbs 31:13–16 ESV

She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

Like the woman of Proverbs 31, Pat was a hard worker, sacrificing much for the good of her family. This, despite hard times she faced in her life. While many might give up and depend on society to fix their problems, Pat rolled up her sleeves and got to work.

This is an example to be emulated.

Proverbs 31:20 ESV

She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.

Pat had a deep compassion for people in need and, even in the most challenging times of her life served people in love.

I got to see this first hand, as she was often the oldest member of our congregation to volunteer to serve during Vacation Bible School and numerous other outreach activities. When others said they were too old to help out, Pat was too compassionate for others to use that excuse.

This is an example to be emulated.

Proverbs 31:25–26 ESV

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

I particularly love these verses for her, because she was a very slight woman physically, but not in her inner strength, her dignity, her wisdom, or her kindness. In fact, I would argue that she was a giant when it comes to each of those characteristics.

This is an example to be emulated.

Proverbs 31:27–28 (ESV)

She looks well to the ways of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed;

Through tears and weeping, two of her sons talked at length with me over the last few weeks about how blessed they were to have a mom like Pat. This wasn’t just because of her ability to overcome numerous struggles, but also because of her amazing faith and example for them.

David asked me, “What are we supposed to do now?” It’s a great question, because , in reality, she would want you to go on and honor the life that she lived. And yet, there will always be a hole in your life that this amazing woman of faith leaves in your heart. It won’t go away. In fact, it can’t go away. You can’t love someone so deeply, and be loved by someone so immensely, and have that just disappear. In fact, you just learn to move forward, realizing that the time you were given with her was one of the greatest blessings of your life.

In fact, outside of her walk with Christ, Pat’s family was the center of her life. In honor of her Friday night tradition of having sandwiches and soup, we will be doing the same at the Celebration of Life service following this service.

But, in her five wishes, Pat said this about her family: “I have felt loved and abundantly blessed by my family and friends. Thank you all for making my life so wonderful.”

I think I speak for all of us here, thank you Pat for making our lives wonderful as well!

This is an example to be emulated.

Proverbs 31:30 ESV

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Pat would not want us to praise her at her funeral service. But she’s not here to stop me, so I’m going to do it anyway.

All joking aside, the reason Pat wouldn’t want to be praised was because she wanted the people around her to see Jesus in her, not herself. Why? Because she was a woman who feared the LORD.

The “fear” of the LORD is an interesting term today, because most people try to avoid fear at all costs. So when the Bible says “fears the LORD” it can confuse people today. Biblically, the word fear typically carries with it the idea of reverence and awe of God. This is a recognition of His perfect holiness and how far we fall short.

This is the kind of fear Pat had. She knew her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and feared the might power and awesomeness of God.

So, even though Pat might not want us to praise her, the Bible says that we can because she was certainly this type of woman!

This too is an example to be emulated.

Of course, as you all gather here this afternoon you grieve over the loss of your friend and family member. I want to encourage you that it’s right to grieve. God created us with many emotions, and grief is one such emotion. It’s important. And grieving is actually health. So grieve.

But in your grief, I want to give you two encouragements. First, reach out to one another in your grief. Don’t close yourself off, hoping to dull or ignore the pain. God created us to be in relationship. Relationship with Him, but also relationship with one another. So grieve together, encourage one another, and love one another as Pat loved all of you.

Second, reach out to God in your time of need. One of Pat’s favorite passages was from Psalm 23. Listen to the words of King David:

Psalm 23 ESV

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Friends and family members, the Lord truly is your shepherd, if you put your faith in Him. Pat wanted her funeral to be a celebration, but more than anything, she wanted for each of you to know the Lord Jesus Christ, as she knew Him.

In fact, listen to these words of Pat: “Let my loved ones know and my friends that I will be waiting for them at Heaven’s gate…please come.”

What an invitation! But you may ask, how can I know that I’ll be there with Pat? The Bible gives us an answer to that question:

Romans 3:23–26 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Put it even more simply, as the Apostle Paul says, “Believe on the Lord and you will be saved!”

I’d love to talk to you more about this after the service, if you have questions.

Finally, I have a personal challenge for everyone here that is not named “Vorse.” This family is understandably hurting. For all of us, we will miss Pat dearly, but life will continue on after today, much as it did when Pat was alive. For her family, there is no normal. A month from now, when we still have fond memories of Ms. Pat, they will still be experiencing her loss. A year from now, all of us might think of Pat and smile, but her sons will think about her a weep.

So love this family. Support this family. Let’s be honest, this family does a lot for all of us. So, it’s time for us to do a lot for them. If they need space, give them space. If they need a listening ear, close your mouth and open your ears. If they need a hug, then become a hugger. But, more than anything, love them, because they truly have lost someone special.

Prayer

Invitation to the Celebration of Life Service