FRANCES "PAT" LORENE (STRAIN) McHARGUE

Frances Lorene “Pat” (Strain) McHargue Frances Lorene (Strain) McHargue, known to family and friends as “Pat”, passed away peacefully on July 23, 2024, at the age of 100 in Spokane, Washington. Pat was born on September 27, 1923, in Harlan, Kansas. The eldest daughter of Walter and Genevieve (Himebaugh) Strain, she loved being a big sister to Bonnie, Roma, and Marvin. Pat spent her childhood primarily in Hooper, Nebraska and Harlan, Kansas, where she graduated as the valedictorian of the Harlan High School class of 1940. She loved learning and especially reading! Her mom took her to get her first library card at age 5, and she never stopped reading until macular degeneration eventually made it impossible. After high school, Pat decided to attend a telegraphy school in Omaha, Nebraska. A perk of the telegraph school was you could choose where you wanted to work, and she wanted be adventuresome and go west! Her first assignment was in Colfax, Washington, which is where she got the nickname “Pat” that she would have for the next 80 years. The story goes, that young Frances wouldn’t tell some sailors in a café her real name. One of them said, “Well, you look like a Pat. We’ll call you Pat.” Soon after, she received a letter at work addressed to Pat Strain. Her boss decided they had too many Frances’s in the office and so from then on, she was known as Pat. After a few months working in Colfax, she was transferred to Tekoa. She met Charles “Charlie” McHargue at the Chinese restaurant in Tekoa in 1943. The next day, Charlie told his mother, “I’ve met the girl I’m going to marry.” After a whirlwind courtship, they were married on January 17, 1944. Twins Ronald Milton and Donald Walter were born in November of the same year; Peggy Lorene came next, and then Salli Joann. The family lived and farmed at the McHargue farm on Lone Pine Road outside of Tekoa. Pat was always busy! Raising 4 children, keeping a sparkling house, tending the garden, canning, baking, and cooking meals for the family and hired men, no doubt it was hard to find time to read, sew, and visit with friends which she so much enjoyed. In 1974, Pat and Charlie built and moved into a new home on the other side of Lone Pine Road from the home place, which is where Pat lived until January 2024. There are many in the Tekoa area who had the good fortune to celebrate a holiday or other special event in the beautiful home Pat created. The first of 7 grandchildren arrived in 1975, which Pat described as “one of the happiest things that ever happened to me.” With her own children grown and starting families of their own, Pat had more free time to pursue her many hobbies and interests. She was on a bowling team, promoted the Dry Pea & Lentil Association at events, attended Volkssport walks and visited wineries with friends. She took sewing classes and enjoyed toll painting and ceramics. In her lifetime, she was a member of Bridge club, PTA, PALS, WBIC, and PEO. She even convinced Charlie to travel with her! They went on cruises to the Caribbean, Panama Canal, South America, and Alaska. They visited Hawaii, and there were many summer trips with the whole family to the Oregon Coast. When the grandkids were a little older, they started taking each one (or two) on a road trip every summer; there were trips to Canada, the coast, and Mount Rushmore. Pat faithfully documented all of these adventures, as well as life at home, with her camera and camcorder. There was never a wheat harvest, sunset, sunflower, or seagull that wasn’t worthy of a photograph! Pat had the most loving, caring, and generous spirit. Anyone who knew her would tell you she had a gift for making you feel special in a way that is hard to put into words. Although there is grief in saying goodbye to Pat’s earthly body, there is also peace knowing she has finally been reunited with the loved ones who passed before her. For those of us left behind, if you keep your mind and your senses open, you are sure to find signs that “Grandma Pat” is still here loving you and looking after you. The family would like to express their gratitude and thanks to all the loving caregivers who made it possible for Pat to remain in her home on the farm until January of this year, as well as the compassionate staff at Rockwood Retirement Community where she lived these last 6 months. Pat was preceded in death by her husband, Charles McHargue, sisters Bonnie Eveler and Roma Starnes, brother Marvin Strain, son Ronald McHargue, and son-in-law David Harelson. She is cherished and survived by son Donald McHargue and wife Rebecca, daughter Peggy Harelson, daughter Salli Heaton and husband Gary, and daughter-in-law Judy McHargue and her companion Cliff Harris. She is deeply loved by her grandchildren Tyler Harelson, Trevor & Katie Harelson, Tara & Aaron Fernald, Mike & Shannon McHargue, Andrea & Jeff Packer, Patrick & Aileen Heaton, and Shana & Juan Horvath and 15 greatgrandchildren. In addition, she will be missed by countless nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends A public graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 10th at Goldenrod Cemetery in Tekoa. Memorial contributions in Pat’s name may be made to the Tekoa Public Library, P.O. Box 742, Tekoa, WA  99033 or the Rockwood Retirement Foundation, 2903 E. 25th Ave., Spokane, WA.  99223. Kramer Funeral Home Tekoa-Palouse is caring for the family. Online condolences may be shared at www.kramercares.com.

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