Patricia Damewood

The Lady Duchess, Patricia Ann (nee Hall) Damewood was born Jan. 25, 1936, to a deeply patriotic, hardworking, blue collar Yankee family in Coudersport, Pennsylvania. Outgoing, indomitable, and fearless, with her signature red hair and can-do attitude, Patricia would charge head-first into life and never asked “for permission” from anyone to do anything. Only mildly furious that she was too young to fight the “Nazzies” in World War 2, she settled for joining the Women’s Army Corp in 1954. Pat became a medical lab technician in a scientific effort to find out “just what the heck is wrong with people these days.” Here she met a tall, dashing army sergeant named Claude Damewood. She was smitten with his West Virginia accent, John Wayne swagger, and permanently butch-waxed flat top. He loved her straight-forward “take no crap” attitude, completely illegible cursive handwriting, and fiery red hair. So, on July 7 of 1956 they were wed at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. Shortly after being married, they naturally discussed having children (mostly in the back of a ‘56 Buick) and started a family. She and Claude raised three of the most independent, free-range, wonderful, smart aleck kids to ever be turned loose on America; Sam, Stacy, and Sheila. Pretty soon it was the 60s, and the Damewoods became a bit more “groovy” when they started traveling across the U.S. in a Volkswagen Microbus. All the Damewood kids would go on to join and proudly serve in the United States military, of which Patricia very much approved. Sadly, in 1984, Patricia’s daughter Stacy would pass away from cancer, and Claude and Pat took it upon themselves to raise her children as their own, for which Hannah and Nick are most humbly, and forever thankful. In the 1990s, Pat took to selling real estate in and around Detroit and enjoyed wheeling and dealing property all while cruising in her royal blue Rolls-Royce. Even after moving to Missouri for the quiet life, Pat was never one to completely retire, staying active with the church, working for the census folks in the early 2000s, and traveling the world. Claude and Pat were married for 56 years, until Claude passed away in August of 2012. This was sadly a dark time for Patricia, until one day, a daring Scottish knight named Alexander “Sandy” Gill came to save Pat from her loneliness and solitude. This he did with his usual aplomb, good-cheer, and a bottle of wine. Together they spent the remainder of Patricia’s life, Sandy always by her side, her loving and devoted partner in crime and adventure, until her passing.

One of Patricia’s great joys was smashing into hapless victims on the Dodgem Track (that’s bumper-cars to the layperson). Most folks never knew they were her target until it was too late... their only warning being her gleeful wild cackling an instant before she ran them down!

A socialite and natural leader, Patricia belonged to many charitable organizations, including the Daughters of the American Revolution, Patrons of the Margaret Harwell Art Museum, The Heavens to Murgatroyd Society for Miniature Schnauzers, The National Association of Cracker Barrel Enthusiast, The Extreme Parasailing Dive Bombing Club (Acapulco Chapter), The Professional Bumper Car Menace Association, the It’s Not Funny McGee Comedy Club, and many more. 

Pat was also a world traveler extraordinaire! Having visited South Korea, India, Nepal, Dubai, Scotland, France, Germany, England, Russia (USSR), The Netherlands, Mexico, Canada, Cuba, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong, Italy, Croatia, Greece, and Turkey and many other countries!

Her take-charge attitude and unconquerable spirit propelled her forward in life, never backing down from a challenge. 

Pat is survived by the love of her life, Sandy Gill; two sons, Sam (Gloria) Damewood and Nick Haskins (swipe right); three daughters, Sandra (Michael) Campbell, Sheila (Dwighty Bob) Larson, and Hannah (Josh) Reasons; one brother, Jim Hall; seven grandchildren, Sean Lyle, Ashley (Lee) Hsie, Lucas and Lily Reasons, Alexandra Campbell, Lucy Daves, and Siobhan Campbell; two great-grandchildren, Rowan Hsie and Campbell Daves; close friends, the Aggarwal Family; along with numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Claude Reeve Damewood; daughter, Stacy Haskins.

Visitation will be held from 5 -7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, at Cotrell Willow Ridge Funeral & Cremation Services.

Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, with Rev. Joshua Reasons officiating. Committal service will follow beginning at noon at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

In lieu of flowers please make donations payable to the Margaret Harwell Art Museum or take your favorite elderly lady to lunch.

Cotrell Willow Ridge Funeral & Cremation Services is honored to serve the family and friends of Mrs. Patricia Ann Damewood.

Online condolences can be made at www.cwrfcs.com.