Patricia Garner Piper was born May 8, 1931 and died December 11, 2016. She was predeceased by her husband of 66 years, Donald Hugh Piper.
Pat loved to sew, quilt, garden, and was an awesome cook, her buttermilk biscuits and pear relish were legend. She loved to square dance, took riding lessons, but because she didn’t like riding horses and wanted to keep up with Don, she then learned to drive a buggy instead. She played the piano and loved to get everyone singing. One of her favorites was to assign a line from The Twelve Days of Christmas to everyone who showed up for Christmas dinner to sing their “solo” part! She started work at Blue Cross Blue Shield after graduation from high school, in Jacksonville, married her high school sweetheart, moved to Fernandina, worked at Hardee Bros hardware store, then raised her family. She was a Girl Scout leader, and kept all the kids and their friends and neighborhood kids busy with activities when they showed up. She loved her volunteer work at the local state parks, River Rise, O’Leno and Dudley Farms, and once made the curtains for the director’s office at Ft. Clinch.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church High Springs, and had been a member of the First Baptist Church Fernandina Beach, and Yulee Baptist Church.
Predeceasing were her parents Charlotte Ward and William “Pete” Jabez Garner, a brother, William (Billy) Jabez Garner, Jr., and a sister, Frances Garner Grant.
She is survived by her daughters Kathy Piper, Fernandina Beach, and Cynthia Piper Evers, Ft. White, a son, Lawrence (Carol) Piper, Jacksonville, brothers Jim Garner and Richard Garner, 5 grandkids, and 8 great-grandkids, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and many wonderful friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Haven Hospice, Chiefland Branch, FL, Ayers Health & Rehabilitation Center, Trenton, FL, or First Baptist Church High Springs.
Services will be held at Evans Carter Funeral Home Chapel in High Springs, Florida on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at 10:00 AM with Visitation 1 Hour Prior.
A graveside service will be held at Luxomni Baptist Church Cemetery in Lilburn, Georgia on Friday, December 16, 2016 at 11:00 AM. Graveside arrangements by Bill Head Funeral Home, Lilburn, Georgia.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you both. We know that your Mother is at peace and with the love of her life. Don & Sue Hughes
To all your wonderful family, Bob and I loved Pat and we will miss her and your dad Don. Pat entered into God’s peace and God’s rest on December 11th. You and your sweet family are in our prayers. We love you, Bob and Marsha Carman