Patricia Ruth Utzman Tolley

Patricia Ruth Utzman Tolley passed peacefully on July 28, 2025 at the age of 97 in Tucson, Arizona. She was born to Clarence & Elsie Utzman on March 4, 1928 at the home of her beloved Grandma Van Slyke in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. Pat and older sister, Betty enjoyed their childhood with their folks on Helen Street in Tucson.

In the halls of Tucson High School, Patricia met her future husband, Willis Brown Tolley. They married on July 18, 1950 and moved to Richland, Washington where Willis worked at the Hanford Nuclear Plant. Missing Tucson and family, they returned to their home town to raise their family of three children and Bobby, the best dog ever.

Pat served her community in numerous ways. She was a Girl Scout leader for Ruth’s troop, a Cub Scout leader for Bill and an Indian Guide leader for David. As her kids outgrew her services, she became a trainer of troop leaders for the Girl Scouts of America. The Tolley kids grew up with a Girl Scout style caper chart pinned to the kitchen bulletin board so all chores were evident & tracked.

Pat contributed to St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal church by serving as the Altar Guild president. She loved decorating the altar every Christmas Eve and sewing vestments for the priests on her Singer treadle sewing machine.

Pat founded Reach Out, an organization that gave guidance to young, single mothers. Pat was a star in this role and made a difference for so many. Working the crisis phone lines for Help on Call was another volunteer job that Pat found very satisfying.

After Willis & Pat moved to an independent living residence, she found another calling. She created the Low Vision Group that met monthly for residents with vision issues. Her super stardom really shone with this endeavor. Pat brought in guest speakers and prepared mini-research projects for the residents who would report back to the group. She was quite creative and well respected in her community for her leadership for this meaningful cause.

Traveling the world was something that Pat & Willis so enjoyed. Their early travel involved a boat, a pop-up camper, three kids and a dog on remote Sea of Cortez beaches with dear friends. Later they especially loved Grand Circle Travel river cruises in Europe. Pat was grateful that Willis loved to globe trot as much as she did.

Patricia had another talent in which she took great pleasure. She was an author! Pat researched the Tolley and Van Slyke roots to write The U.S. and Us, which is a fascinating tour through early America with family ancestors. Pat took online classes in poetry and began putting her life experiences in verse. Some were humorous, some sorrowful and some descriptive of their travels. In 2002 she self-published her book Cherry Memories: A Memoir in Verse.

Patricia was proceeded in death by her parents, her loving husband Willis, her beloved son David & her sister Betty Wiley. Patricia is survived by Ruth (Richard) Wade, Willis (Mary Lynn) Tolley, grandchildren, Brett, Matthew and Steffanie Tolley, as well as her loved nieces and nephews. Services will be held at St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church at 10:00 am on September 27 th , 2025. In lieu of flowers, a donation to a charity of choice may be made in Patricia’s name.