Celebrating Patricia Ann Richer Jeffery'S 100th Birthday
Mr. Speaker, I stand today in celebration of the 100th birthday of Ponte Vedra, Florida's own Pat Jeffery. Pat was born in Miles City, Montana, on August 30, 1926, but spent much of her childhood in Indiana. She attended Indiana…
Mr. Speaker, I stand today in celebration of the 100th birthday of Ponte Vedra, Florida's own Pat Jeffery.
Pat was born in Miles City, Montana, on August 30, 1926, but spent much of her childhood in Indiana. She attended Indiana University, and after graduating, she moved to New York City to attend the Katharine Gibbs School.
Pat soon began working as a publicity writer at NBC Studios. It was in New York City that Pat met her husband, Scott Jeffery. Soon, they were engaged. Scott was promoted and transferred to Colombia by the Colgate-Palmolive Company. Together, they moved to Colombia and married in the Panama Canal Zone on January 25, 1956.
Over the next 30 years, they raised four children and built a wonderful life together in Colombia.
Pat immersed herself in community service through their Episcopal church, helping to establish the Trinity school, which provided educational opportunities for children without access to schooling.
Pat also helped other mothers in the area earn incomes to help support their families by teaching them how to make handbags and macrame. Some of those bags actually were eventually sold at Bloomingdale's and other boutiques throughout the United States.
Pat even started her own tennis apparel company called Aire, which her daughter, Barbara, and the family helped grow.
However, living in Colombia was becoming increasingly more dangerous for the family. After three decades in Colombia, Pat and Scott made the difficult decision to leave and return home to the United States.
In 1986, they retired and moved to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. There, they embraced their new chapter in life and found a community filled with wonderful friends, endless activities, and a true sense of belonging.
From Montana to New York City and Colombia to Ponte Vedra Beach, Pat has spent her life inspiring those around her with selflessness, curiosity, appreciation, and always a zest for life.
Mr. Speaker, today, I recognize and honor Pat for living an extraordinary century filled with adventure, courage, friendship, and community service. I wish Pat a happy 100th birthday from all the constituents of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and Florida's Fifth Congressional District. God bless her, and we pray for many more.