Patricia James Hancher

Patricia Ruth Smithson was born in Des Moines Iowa to Ruth and Warren Smithson on Saint Patrick’s Day 1933. She and her older sister, Donna Jean, attended North High School, from which Patricia graduated in 1950 at the age of 17.

She enjoyed roller skate dancing, synchronized swimming and team rope jumping in her youth.

She attended the University of Iowa in Iowa City, graduating with a nursing degree circa 1955.

She was married to Allen James for 20 years living with him in New Jersey and then Lincoln Nebraska. In addition to nursing, she pursed a career as a real estate broker in both Nebraska and Illinois, and then as an executive assistant to the head of the American Dental Association. She lived in Evanston Illinois with her second husband, Virgil Hancher for 20 years before moving to Fort Collins Colorado in 1996 to be closer to her children and soon to be born grandsons.

Pat loved reading, gardening, volunteering, and shopping. Some believe she missed her true calling as a professional shopper because she could size up anyone with a single look and then outfit them from head to toe in the perfect wardrobe, always purchased at a discount. She was a staunch advocate of women’s rights and civil rights and gave many hours volunteering for agencies like the Crossroads Safehouse for victims of domestic violence and their children. Seeing the Chippendales live was one of the funnest things she said she ever did.

Patricia enjoyed the mountains, camping, Siamese cats and grand parenting. She taught her children and grandchildren the value of an education and hard work, always teaching them to be ethical and brave, to take care of those less fortunate then themselves, and to have fun in life.

She is preceded in death by her parents, sister and youngest son, Anthony Herrold James.

She is survived by her husband of nearly five decades, Virgil Hancher, and her children Eric James, Anna James Bruegmann and Sue James as well as her son-in-law, Alan Anderson and her two grandsons, Lee and Anthony Anderson. Her cat, Houdini, will also miss her.

In lieu of flowers please consider a small donation to the Crossroads Safehouse in Fort Collins, Colorado (https://crossroadssafehouse.org/donate/#).