Pat and me, taken by Deborah Strauss in Austin in the spring of 1998.
Info from Pat's niece, Brooke:
Posting an update on my Uncle Pat here - it seems like the most efficient way due to everyone being spread around the place. Please share as you see fit. My mother, Kay Calkins, was Pat's youngest sister. I take care of my grandfather's affairs, who is Pat's father and next of kin. I am in contact with authorities, working through details and arrangements. I will post those here as soon as we have them nailed down.
I received confirmation today that Pat passed away from a heart attack. He had been in the hospital earlier this week with heart issues, but was discharged Wed afternoon or Thu morning. He had cell phone activity Thu morning, but not afterwards. Pat was found by the Home Health nurse that came to check on him Friday morning. The coroner estimates that he passed away Thu afternoon or evening, so Dec 8th. His heart attack happened in an area that they call "widow maker" - when a patient has this type of heart attack in the hospital, they only have a 20% chance of survival. The coroner described it as "turning off the light switch", it's immediate. It appears that Uncle Pat was standing in his living room, looking out the window to the parking lot, and simply fell backwards. There were no signs of distress or struggle, no reaching for a phone, etc. I share this only because it brings me comfort - knowing it was quick and that there would have been nothing that could have been done had someone been there. This is the same heart attack that my grandmother, Pat's mother, had at age 63 when she passed away quietly in our living room. Pat would have been 63 in January.
If anyone has any helpful information, please feel free to share it with me. I also would love any pictures that you may have.
Lastly, please pray for my grandfather, Charlie Calkins Jr. - or send good vibes, we appreciate it all. He will turn 91 this month, and this will be his third child to bury, while also losing his wife and one grandson (my brother). He is holding up well, considering - but this is all more than one person should have to bear.
We thank everyone for their kind words and support - and a special thank you to those who have helped me gather information today. Pat's stepdaughter AJ and I were talking today about this feeling like a wild goose chase, and I told her that I would expect nothing less from my crazy Uncle Pat. He was eccentric and interesting, marched to the beat of his own drummer - I will cherish the good times - like when he came out of the bushes on his unicycle to scare the bejesus out of me. Rest In Love Uncle Pat.
