Patricia Tierney Rush, 53, of Kendrick, lost her battle with leukemia Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010, with her family by her side in Seattle.
She was born Nov. 19, 1956, in Geneva, Ill., to Dean and Rosemary Tierney. She graduated from St. Francis High School in Wheaton, Ill., in 1974. Soon after graduation, she met Paul V. Rush Jr., whom she married on April 24, 1976, in Warrenville, Ill. In 1980, they moved to Kendrick with their two children. Pat was a homemaker and Paul worked as a contractor.
Pat returned to work first at the Latah Public Library in Juliaetta and later at the University of Idaho library. For several years, between work hours, she took classes at the university and, in May 1995, was awarded a bachelor of science in education degree. She went on to teach math at the UI, Kendrick High School and Moscow High School. She received her master's degree from the UI in 2002.
Pat was involved in almost every facet of the Kendrick community. She was a member of Cameron Emmanuel Lutheran Church, where she sang in the choir for many years. She was the Knowledge Bowl coach at Kendrick High School, as well as a drivers' education instructor. Pat was a volunteer emergency medical technician and also taught EMT classes and acted as president of the group. She helped organize the parade for Kendrick's annual Locust Blossom Festival for many years. When her children were involved in 4-H, she acted as a leader in cake-decorating. She just never sat still.
Her interests included family, especially her grandchildren; quilting; friends; traveling; and music. She loved to play the piano and had bought a baby grand two years ago. This had always been a dream of hers.
Pat is survived by her husband of 33 years, Paul, of Kendrick; son and daughter-in-law Paul and Natasha Rush and their children Alexa and Paul, of Kuna, Idaho; daughter and son-in-law Katie and Steve Ohlmeyer of Carrollton, Va., and their children Austin, Tyler and Jenna; her mother, Rosemary Tierney Maher of DeKalb, Ill.; and her siblings, Sharon Stritzel, Laura Pistey, James Tierney, Ann Foppe and Tess Day.
She was preceded in death by her father, Dean Tierney, on Jan. 3, 2001.
An open viewing will be from noon to 8 p.m. Friday at Short's Funeral Chapel in Moscow. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Kendrick High School, followed by a burial service at the Cameron Cemetery.
Memorials may be made in Pat's honor to: Friends of Pat Rush Medical Relief Fund, Wells Fargo Bank, 501 W. Main St., Kendrick, ID 83537.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Short's Funeral Chapel, and online condolences may be left at www.shortsfuneralchapel.net.
