Patricia Doris Yoder, the third of four children, was born on March 5, 1947, to Alfred and Virginia Kuskie in Millville, NJ. She is survived by her younger sister, Brenda Payne (John), daughter Kathy Keenan, son Kenneth Yoder (Jennifer), grandsons Joshua Keenan, Michael Yoder, and John Yoder, as well as several nieces and nephews. 

 

Mom met Robert Yoder through mutual friends, and they married on October 8, 1964. Bob was serving in the US Navy, and they lived in many places , including Texas, Oakland, California, and Colorado. They lost their first child due to miscarriage, but welcomed Kathy in 1967, and Kenneth in 1970. 

 

Mom was baptized as one of Jehovahs Witnesses on July 4, 1975, at The Colorado Women’s College. She had questions about God’s feelings about morals after a family member said that God accepted her lifestyle. She prayed, asking God if that was true. Soon after, a pioneer sister named Becky Olson knocked on the door, and offered her the Watchtower and Awake! magazines, and asked if she could come back the following Tuesday. Mom agreed. 

 

Mom said she read the Awake magazine article about blood transfusions, and told Becky she didn’t understand why the Witnesses wouldn’t accept a blood transfusion when the scriptures were clearly saying not to “eat” blood. Mom said Becky had a huge smile after hearing that from her.

 

She studied the Bible for about a year before her baptism, and served as a Regular Pioneer for two years soon after her baptism. She was privileged to conduct many bible studies during that time, with three people accepting the truth and dedicating their lives to Jehovah. They all continue in their service to him.

 

When her children were older, she decided to go back to school and study biology. When we passed the flowers in the grocery store, she would always inspect them and show us the reproductive system of them. She also brought home a fetal pig that she was dissecting. She enjoyed learning and worked to pass along a love of reading and learning to her kids. 

 

Mom was an inventor, and held a patent for her invention. She also was a pilot, and loved the freedom of flying. She enjoyed music of all kinds, but loved Elvis Presley. She enjoyed crocheting, making and gifting many baby blankets over the years. No flat surface in the house didn’t have a doiley on it. 

 

Mom had a snarky sense of humor and never passed an opportunity to make a joke at Kathy and Kenneth’s expense, once telling Kathy she knew the head X-ray she was looking at was of her, “because it was empty.”

 

She was the most proud of being a grandma and everywhere she took the boys when they were little, she would proudly announce she was with her grandson.

 

She is dearly missed by her family, and her loss is deeply felt.