Pat was born 20th October 1944 in Pembury, to Lillian and Edward
Barton. Sadly, Pat did not have a great start in life and spent her first 3 years in and out of institutions with her mother. In 1947 Pat was taken into care and was moved to a children’s care home. In 1949 Pat’s life turned around when she was boarded out to live with foster parents, Dorothy and Stan Shadbolt, in Whitstable. They also had another foster child named Ron who was older than Pat.4 Pat become very much part of the family and remained with them until she was 18 years of age. Ron also remained with them and he was always and remained a real brother to Pat. During this time Pat enjoyed family holidays and going to the cinema with Ron. She attended Girls Life Brigade, Sunday school and Old-time dancing lessons. Pat learnt how to swim and enjoyed swimming out in the sea at every opportunity she got. Throughout her childhood she enjoyed reading and needlework. Dorothy (foster mother) once commented that Pat (at the age of 13) was a very good needlewoman and that it would help her if she was to marry in the future. It had also been noted during many review visits that either Pats wardrobe was extremely comprehensive and she had a penchant for a home perm. Pat attended Sir William Nottage School and had private typing courses. She left school at age 16 and started her first job at Rybars in a factory working with pharmaceuticals. However, Pat always wanted to do clerical work and continued with her private typing lessons and when she was 18 got a job as a short hand typist at Hobbco. Pat met her childhood sweetheart, Chris Skeer, when she was 16, lodged with him and his father when she was 18 and they married in 1965. They lived together in Graveney and had 3 children, Lynden, Sheena and Hester. In the mid-seventies the family moved to Faversham where Pat worked in a supermarket as a cashier and later a supervisor. In the early 80’s Pat had a serious fall and had to have an operation on her back and in the early 90’s had to retire early due to her disability. Pat separated from Chris, and they consequently divorced in 1992. Pat moved to Maidstone and completed a course in computer technology. In 1994 her first grandchild, Amy, arrived and in 1996 she married her second husband, Steve. Although it was a happy marriage, sadly in the year 2000 she separated from Steve and moved back to Faversham. Pat was over the moon to have a further 3 grandchildren, Hannah, Lacie and Lucas and great grandchildren Ethan, Aaliyah and Jack. Pat loved having a car and the freedom to drive around, she looked after them and always liked to keep them clean. Even when her cherished Granada was no longer road worthy, she was able to have a mobility car up until she was 70. At this time Pat, due to cataracts and the diagnosis of dementia, was no longer able to drive and she spent the remainder of her life at home. She spent the time watching TV, films, soaps and listening to music, something she seemed to really enjoy. Pat even learnt how to order her shopping online for delivery and accessed Facebook to see what the family were up to! She always seemed happy and content being 5 at home with family and friends visiting and spending time with family at Christmas. Pat kept in touch with friends she’d known throughout her life including Colin, Lynda, Pauline and Sandra among many others, sadly, some of whom are no longer with us. On the 24th January 2021, Pat was taken to hospital and diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. She was visited in her last days by her close family and passed away peacefully at her home on 17th February with her daughter, Hester, by her side. Pat loved and cherished all her family and friends very much and, even towards the end, was devoted to and cared for them all. Pat was a small shining star that battled adversity and joins others to brightly light up the night skies.