Patsy Jo Beheler, 93, passed away Jan. 20, 2022, in Austin. She was the firstborn child to E.M. (“Mike”) and Nona Beheler Jan. 6, 1929, in Taylor.
She graduated from Brenham High School in 1946, attended Nixon & Clay Business College in Austin, then later, attended Blinn College in Brenham.
She began her career working at the Taylor Times as a clerk/stenographer then, in 1951, and launched a 37-year career at the Texas Employment Commission. Hired as a stenographer, she worked her way through numerous promotions and departments, ultimately reaching the role of personnel officer. She was elected to the board of directors of the TEC’s credit union and served many years before retiring.
In her youth she authored the column “Pool and Park by Patsy” in the Taylor Times, was a Worthy Advisor of the Rainbow Girls, and was chosen as the sweetheart of Blinn College’s Beta Tau Omega fraternity because of her “splendid personality and good looks.”
A life-long dog lover, Patsy rescued multiple dogs including Muffin, Suzy, Toby, Missy, Annie and Katie. She frequently commented that she didn’t know how people could live without dogs as they added so much love, companionship and humor to one’s life.
She enjoyed antiquing and filled her home with treasures passed down from family members and found during her travels. She was always hunting for her next find, and to the end, carried a tape measure in her purse in case she discovered a new piece that needed measuring.
She excelled in the kitchen and was an avid entertainer. Her recipes for breakfast tacos, peanut butter balls, and coyote droppings delighted generations and are greatly cherished.
Her garden was always blooming, and she was adamant that there wasn’t much that couldn’t be cured by working with the soil and plants. Her yard was a haven for birds and squirrels, with multiple feeders to entice the wildlife for her enjoyment and the consternation of her dogs.
She loved family fiercely, having grown up with numerous aunts, uncles and cousins in addition to her parents and brother. A tightly bound group, her cousins brought her tremendous joy and sustained her throughout her life.
She was particularly close to cousin Pam McCamish and often referred to her as a sister. “Prats” enjoyed many holidays with Pam’s family, and she and Pam spent decades antiquing, running errands, shopping and fussing at one another.
Patsy treasured her regular visits with her brother, Edward and his wife Adrine, in Scottsdale, Arizona, and with her niece Linda in Dallas. However, the travel highlight of her year was, undoubtedly, her annual pilgrimage to Saint Joseph, Missouri, where she would go deer hunting with her nephew Richard. Patsy enthusiastically arose before dawn, donned the traditional camouflage hunting attire, and braved freezing temperatures in the deer blind until her late 80s.
This indomitable woman was laid to rest at Waco Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to Wee Rescue, Austin Pets Alive, or Birome Community Church.
