Patricia (Patty)

Gorges

Patricia (Patty) Gorges, age 86, of Harlingen, Texas, passed away on May 12, 2022. She was born on February 23, 1936. Patty is survived by her husband of 64 years Matt Gorges and her children Anne Gorges (Don Randall), Marshall Gorges, Matthew Gorges (Sally), Elizabeth Gorges (Neil Lannuier), and Michael Gorges (Gary Wright), her brother Gene Crandall (Myra), sisters Beverly Lindrooth and Kathy Dale, and six grandchildren: Casey, Caroline, Benjamin, Melissa, Weslan, and Ronan. She was preceded in death by her infant son Walter Gorges, parents George and Olga Crandall and sister Marjorie Enney.

Patty was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and lived in Dow City, Iowa, for 12 years. Her family moved to the Rio Grande Valley in 1948. She lived in Edinburg and Weslaco for a short time. Her family permanently settled in Harlingen in 1949. At Harlingen High School she was a class officer, class favorite, twice band sweetheart, band twirler, and a member of the National Honor Society. At age 15 while in high school she met, became best friends, traded class notes, and began dating the love of her life Matt Gorges. She received a scholastic scholarship to attend the University of Houston where she studied nursing and became a Registered Nurse in 1957.

Patty and Matt were married on January 31, 1958, and they returned to Harlingen to begin their long life together. During the years their children were growing up she was very active in school related activities including many years as a room mother and as she said many times the family taxi driver. She was a long­ time member of the board of Gladys Porter Zoo and Monica and Maggie's House, a member of the Junior Service League of Harlingen and PEO. She had a wide range of interests including attending or watching symphony performances, Broadway shows, movies, and sporting events of all kinds. Most of all she loved being a mother and grandmother.

No description of Patty's life would be complete without recognizing the impact of cancer on her life and family. Her infant son Walter was born with cancer and survived several desperate operations before dying at age 17 months. Patty and all four of her siblings had cancer. Her sister Marjorie died from cancer. Patty battled non-Hodgkin's lymphoma for over 20 years including three operations, extended chemotherapy treatment four different times, loss of hair three times, and radiation. She actively promoted cancer research in the valley through sponsoring and participating in fund raising events including Relay for Life, Dining by Design, and promoting MD Anderson Cancer Center. Patty believed in sharing and lived by the Christian message to help your neighbor. She was a lifelong Catholic and member of St. Anthony Church for 73 years (since 1949). Together Matt and Patty established the St. Anthony School Endowment Fund, the Diocese of Brownsville Endowment Fund, the Gorges Foundation, the Patty Gorges Nursing Scholarship Endowment at UTRGV and supported charity efforts too numerous to mention.

There will be a private family burial. A celebration of her life funeral Mass will be held at St. Anthony Church Harlingen, Texas, on Tuesday, May 17 at 4:00 pm. The Rev. Amador Garza will be the celebrant. A reception will follow Mass at the Harlingen Country Club. In lieu of flowers, friends wishing to do so can make donations to The Patty Gorges Nursing Scholarship Endowment at UTRGV addressed to UTRGV Office of Institutional Advancement, 701 E. Expressway 83, McAllen, Texas 78501.

Arrangements are under the direction of Trinity at Harrison Funeral Home at 1002 East Harrison Ave. Harlingen, TX 78550. www.trinityfunerals.com.