Patricia Lee Crocker Edmundson, 71, of Ashland, Virginia, died on April 16, 2024, peacefully at home, surrounded by family. Patricia (Pat/Tricia), was born April 13, 1953, in Smithfield, Virginia. Pat was the oldest of four children born to the late Cecil Lee Crocker and Norma Dell Burton Crocker. She was preceded in death by her brother, Lee, and her sister, Yvonne. She is survived by her husband, John Ray Edmundson III; her daughters Lauren Ehredt (Daniel), Sarah Capehart (Robert) and Katelin Nicholos (Ryan); grandchildren Jocelyn, Roman, Suri, Norma Claire, Rhett and Benjamin; sister, Wanda Pearson (Jimmy), nephew, niece, and many other relatives unnamed here.

Pat enjoyed any activity that brought her closer to nature and was a woman of many talents. She ‘kept’ bees for many years, bottling honey and giving it as gifts to friends and family at Christmas. Her love for nature was shown through her gardening. She worked hard tending to her flower beds, window boxes and potted plants each year, and enjoyed watching the bees pollinate her flowers, as well as other wildlife that passed through.

Pat also loved rivers, and was a stone’s throw from one most of her life. Her appreciation for rivers began in Smithfield, growing up along the Pagan River. The South Anna River flowed near her property in Ashland, and she enjoyed walking ‘down to the river’ sometimes stopping midway at a bench in the woods to enjoy the sounds of nature. Connection with nature is what drew her closer to her husband John, who introduced her to white water rafting, canoeing and kayaking, as well as rock climbing. Many family trips were centered around these activities.

Pat’s love for the great outdoors was only superseded by her animals, who brought her so much joy. It was important to her that they had the freedom to roam. It wasn’t uncommon to see Ginger or Oscar show up at a neighbor’s doorstep. Many times, at the end of the day, she would have to call neighbors to find them. No doubt Pat’s entrance to heaven was a happy one, as she has surely been reunited with Tasha, Maggie, Ginger, Oscar, Sesame, Rocky, Piper, Sampson, Maddie & Sabel.

Pat captained tennis teams for many years, and developed lasting friendships on and off the court. Her love for music was always evident, as speakers around the house, on the deck, or near the hammock were always humming with tunes ranging from Led Zeppelin to Natalie Cole. She played the guitar, sang, and cherished hearing her daughters play the piano and violin. Pat was also a talented artist, as shown by her pastel drawings which pepper the walls of her home.

Pat was a Virginia Commonwealth University alumna, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design. She was a skilled seamstress, creating curtains for her daughter’s homes, among other things. Eventually she landed a job at VEPCO, now known as Dominion Energy. She worked tirelessly for thirty years, and managed to keep a clean house and cook meals for her family, whom she had unconditional love for. Pat retired eight years before she passed, and battled melanoma for the last four years. She fought until the very end before God called her home.

A memorial will be held on April 26, 2024, at 11:00am, at St. James the Less in Ashland, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Melanoma Research Alliance.