Patricia (Patty) JoAnn Carlson Price
May 7, 1934 - January 9, 2018
Patricia (Patty) JoAnn Carlson Price passed away on Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at her home in Quail Park. She was born May 7, 1934 in Omaha, Nebraska to Raymond & Lillian Carlson. She had a younger brother, Steve.
Patty met Ron Price in Omaha while he was stationed at Offutt Air Force base just outside Omaha. They were married September 3rd, 1955 in Omaha, and have been married for 62 years. They have 3 children: Karen (Dave), Raymond (Karen) and Erik (Jaymie); 7 Grandchildren: Jared (Emily) & Cassy, Ryan (Lindsay), Derek & Andrea, Amanda & Forrest. There are 3 great grandsons: Atticus, Macklin, Finnian & 1 great granddaughter on the way.
Patty was born to be an entrepreneur. In grade school she had a penny arcade in the neighborhood. Her dad made her a penny toss using very hard wood which gave her a big advantage over her “clients”.
In high school she was involved with the Debate Team. She kept in touch with other members of her debate team until her stroke. Four members of the team married and she visited their homes, the last time in 2009. She was an avid swimmer spending summers in Omaha at Peony Park.
After she and Ron were married she took on a few different jobs. She worked as a secretary for a short period of time, then was self-employed distributing Lady Bravoni hosiery, during the period when Leggs were so popular. After that it was Tupperware parties and followed by Copper Kraft parties.
For several years she worked at the Snoqualmie Pass Gift Shop, toting her kids in the Volkswagen Bus to the Pass on the weekends. In the mid 70’s she hired a Coach for a Thursday ski bus to Stevens Pass. She ran this Thursday Bus every year until 2009.
In the late 1960s Patty, along with several other ladies (Lassie W. and Pat A. to name two) took a stitchery class from local artist Betty Jensen. Betty was asked by renowned stitcher & author Jacqueline Enthoven if her group would like to join her to take part in a five day workshop taught by Constance Howard from England. The bond between the local women was instant, so they decided to meet on a regular basis. Thus was born the group called the “US Group” (Unorganized Stitchers), and lifelong friendships were formed. Through the years the group would have regular meetings and retreats. The last being a Christmas party hosted by one of the group in 2015.
She and her good friend Martha decided to try hosting a consignment rummage sale. They were so successful they continued to do rummage sales for 9 years. The tenth year they decided to hold a consignment hand arts and craft sale, selling items not only made by them but from many other people. This led to her renting a little house in Edmonds, Washington in 1972, opening a hand arts & crafts consignment store called “Patty’s Place.” Over time the store evolved into a quilt shop, hosting classes for quilting and other needle arts. She operated Patty’s Places for 12 years, when the business sold in 1984 she had over 1300 bolts of fabric.
During the mid 1970’s when Patty’s Place was evolving into a quilt shop, Patty sponsored the Quiltmobile, a motorhome touring the country with a quilt display. Patty arranged with her landlord Pete, who also ran the auto shop next door, to use the lube bay of the shop to stage a quilt show. The bay had high ceilings and was open at both ends, so with Pete’s help the bay was steam cleaned and quilts were hung on the walls and quilt racks. With the Quiltmobile parked in the driveway people could view the Quiltmobile, continue through the garage out the back and enter Patty’s Place where more quilts and quilt supplies were on display. It is believed to have been one of the first (if not the first) quilt shows in the area. She went on to do one or two more quilt shows in the Anderson Center in Edmonds.
As her interest in quilting grew, she gathered some of her quilting friends together to attend a local TV show that regularly hosted different groups. Before Patty’s group was introduced, she learned that these groups were supposed to be non-profit, so she gave the group’s name as “Quilters Anonymous”. After the show Patty set up regular meetings across the street from the Patty’s Place at the Pancake House and “Quilters Anonymous” was born. QA is still thriving today and holds annual quilt shows at the fairgrounds in Monroe, Washington.
In 1981, she and friend Lorraine decided to travel overseas with Rick Steves (whose parents were friends from church). They put in a small amount of money to rent a van, and along with 4 or 5 college age women traveled with Rick as driver and guide. They went without any hotel reservations, staying mostly in youth hostels. Year 2 Rick arranged to rent two vans for a tour of England, but the driver for the second van backed out. Patty said “I can drive” so off they went, with Patty following Rick through the country of hedgerows and roundabouts. For the next two years Patty was Rick’s assistant on coach tours of Europe.
Patty then decided to organize trips on her own. So with the help of a Belgium coach driver and the company he worked for, she set up a trip of her own that included some Eastern Block countries. Arranging this trip came with some difficulty, as relations between the US and Russia were strained. That is how “Patty’s Places” (with an s) was born. She continued that business from 1984 until 2009, traveling to Scandinavia, Switzerland, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, China and New Zealand.
During her travel days Patty rediscovered her love of the camera, taking pictures of every door, alleyway, flower box etc. as she traveled across Europe. Her family joked that she had a ‘glass’ eye. Most times you would find her with two cameras slung around her neck!
Patty also had a love of music. She loved Sousa and frequently had the stereo turned up with some march playing. Later in life she discovered the Hammered Dulcimer, eventually buying one and taking lessons.
Many afternoons were spent at the corner store in Richmond Beach listening to the Jam sessions that took place.
Patty touched many people during her life. She will be missed by many.
FUNERAL INFORMATION
A memorial service will be held Friday February 9th at 2:00:
Alderwood Community Church
3403 Alderwood Mall Blvd.
Lynnwood, WA 98036