Patrick Ness (Pat) (Patty)

If Patty were here to share one last story, this is what he would say:

I was born in Redmond, Oregon, the oldest of four sons of Raphael “Buck” Ness and Dorothy “Dottie” Ness (née Totten). The day I arrived; my maternal grandparents were in a serious car accident—a moment that reshaped our family. My mother, the eldest of nine children, took on the role of parent to her eight younger siblings, and as the oldest son, I helped care for my younger brothers.

Childhood in Oregon was full of outdoor adventures. My dad loved taking us hunting and fishing in the Cascades and Sierra Nevada mountains, and our home was often bustling with aunts, uncles, and cousins. In 1952, we moved to Venice Beach, California, where the ocean and sun became central to my life. I spent my days surfing, exploring, and wandering the beaches and canals.

I started working early—first as a newspaper delivery boy, and later helping out at the plumbing shop where my father worked. I eventually apprenticed there, became a journeyman plumber, and explored many other occupations: selling insurance, working at McDonnell-Douglas, and later earning a degree in machine tool design.

Music was one of my lifelong passions. I first learned accordion through a program developed by Lawrence Welk and later picked up guitar, banjo, and harmonica. The Southern California surf culture also remained in my heart forever—there was always a surfboard strapped to the roof of my truck.

In my late teens, I married Carol Singler (1966–1990), and together we raised two children, Michele and Adam. In 1976, a trip to Washington State sparked my love for the Pacific Northwest, and we moved to Whatcom County. There, I opened a cabinetry shop in Nooksack and built a log home in the foothills of the Cascades. I came to manage the construction of a modern medical center in Bellingham, leading the crew that built the Marble Building surgery center.

My connection to the medical community grew from there. Overseeing maintenance of the facility led to meeting Karen, an operating room nurse. We married in 1992, and I welcomed another son, Kevin, into my life. Karen and I co-owned the Walk-In Health Clinic—the first of its kind in Whatcom County—and I managed it for 30 years. I also gave back to my community by serving on the board of Brigid Collins House, an organization supporting at-risk children and families.

I had a gift for building relationships across cultures, and my friendships in the local Vietnamese community led me to sponsor several families from Vietnam. They, in turn, taught me the secrets of authentic Pho among other dishes. Cooking was another lifelong love. Family and friends looked forward to my homemade Vietnamese dishes, tamales, Peking duck and Senate navy bean soup- to name a few.

I had many wonderful adventures in retirement. I could be found on pretty much any Whatcom County golf course, spending a few days creating a complex meal, working in my shop, remodeling the house, or cultivating relationships with the local crows.

I loved to laugh. I loved to make others laugh. My toe socks, worn year-round, caused a lot of smiles-my goal achieved! My family would roll their eyes at my reputation as a “talker” and smile. They would always also call me a kind, generous person who loved his family, loved his friends, and lived life to the fullest. I will miss you all and will always, always love you.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, September 21, 2025, from 1–4 p.m. at the Birch Bay Village Clubhouse.