Patricia Jones Allen 82, of Ft. Myers, Florida, formerly of the Buel Community in McLean County, Kentucky passed away Saturday, February 3, 2024 in Owensboro. Patricia Lynn Jones was born November 10, 1941 near Beech Grove, Kentucky to the late Richard Louis and Helen Hancock Jones and was previously married to Jerry Mize and Lawrence Allen. A life of caring and love was fulfilled with her death. Pat was a resident of Fort Myers, Florida, for the past 32 years.
Graduating as a co-valedictorian of her Calhoun High School Senior class, Pat went on to complete a BA degree from Kentucky Wesleyan College, a MA from Western Kentucky University, and a MSLS from the University of Kentucky. After serving as a school librarian in the Daviess and McLean County school systems, she joined the faculty at Kentucky Wesleyan College and later taught graduate classes as an adjunct professor for Western Kentucky and Indiana universities.
After completing the coursework for a PhD at the University of North Carolina, she began a different facet of her library career serving as Assistant Director of the Evansville-Vanderburg County (IN) Public Library, Director of the Carmel Clay (IN) Public Library, then for sixteen years as Director of the Sanibel Island (FL) Public Library, retiring in 2007.
Pat was a Kentucky Colonel, and a member of the DAR. She was named to Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who of American Women, and was named the Sanibel Captiva Chamber of Commerce 1995 Outstanding Citizen of the Year. Serving as President of the Kentucky School Media Association and the Southwest Florida Library Network, she also sat on the Board of Directors of various library organizations in Kentucky, Indiana, and Florida as well as several service organizations including Altrusa, PEO, Zonta, and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. Her most recent hobbies were making greeting cards and collecting buttons. She was an avid button collector and belonged to the Naples (FL) Button Club, Punta Gorda (FL) Button Club and the Florida State Button Club.
As a Girl Scout leader, she led her daughter Beth’s Brownie Troop and organized a new Junior Scout Troop in Calhoun where they conducted a contest to design the first official McLean County flag in 1976.
In addition to her parents, Pat was preceded in death by her longtime companion, Donald Figura and by a brother, Richard Hancock Jones.
Pat is survived by her two children, Martin Paul Mize (Kecia) and their children Jeremy, Maci and Marli of Owensboro; Elizabeth Mize Atherton and her children, Joshua and William of Calhoun; her siblings, Judith Ayer, Betsy Woosley (John), and Tony Jones (Larkin).
Family graveside services were held Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at Pleasant Hope Cemetery in McLean County. Muster Funeral Homes, Calhoun Chapel handled the arrangements for Pat’s family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Pleasant Hope Cemetery Fund; C/O Tom Howard; 3583 Kentucky 136 East; Calhoun, Kentucky 42327.
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