Patricia ‘Patty’ L. Christian

Patricia (“Patty”) L. Christian, longtime Oak Harbor resident, passed away at her home on Monday, Feb. 22, 2016, following a brief illness. She was surrounded by her loving family.

Patty was born on Jan. 11, 1958, in Blue Island, Ill., to Howard G. White and Thelma J. White.

Patty was a 1976 graduate of Oak Harbor High School. Soon after graduation she married Jack Christian.

Patty was a successful business owner and avid lover of animals. She acquired her first horse (“Rocky”) at the age of 13 and joined the Pony Club where she shared her love of horses with other young enthusiasts. Patty could often be seen training her horses in the dressage arena that husband Jack constructed on the grounds of their home. Patty was always on the lookout for abandoned dogs and cats in need of “rescue.” As an accomplished artist, her horses, dogs and cats would often be the subject of her drawings.

Patty was preceded in death by her grandparents and father (Howard ‘Bud’ White) and survived by her husband Jack Christian; son Joshua Christian; mother Thelma White; brothers Michael White and Thomas White (Debbie); sister Pamela White; nieces, Katy Ring (Dave), Carrie White and Kelly White; nephew Benjamin White (Colleen); and many cousins.

A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, at the First United Methodist Church, Oak Harbor.

Memorials may be sent to Equestrian Crossings of Whidbey Island, Washington, @ equestri ancrossings.org, or the Wounded Warriors Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite #300, Jacksonville, FL 32256. Family and friends are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.whidbeymemorial.com