Patricia Jo Orr Smith Verde of Longmont, Colorado passed away peacefully on Friday, March 14, 2025 after years of declining health.
Born on October 19, 1940, and raised in Hendersonville, NC, graduating from Hendersonville High School, she received her undergraduate degree in Speech Pathology from Greensboro College in NC and her Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from Towson University in MD. The majority of her adult life was spent in Baltimore, where for a span of over 40 years, Patricia served as a speech pathologist, classroom teacher, and private tutor. Some of her fondest memories were as a first grade teacher at St. Paul’s Lower School. She was dearly loved by her students and she was devoted to them. Her love of children was one of her strongest assets throughout her career.
Patricia’s surviving family is extensive-husband, Frank Verde, sister, Joy Bruce (John), brother Steve Orr (Jane), children Deborah Gray (Harry), Herbert J. Smith III (Maureen), Stephen Smith (Karla), Gillian Skokan (Eric), Michael Verde (Laurie), Ann Marie Verde, Mary Jo Cowell (Dan), 17 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Vanoy Dudley Orr and Frances Elizabeth Heffner Orr, husband, Herbert J. Smith Jr., sisters Betty Durden and Elaine Orr, son Stephen Verde, and grandson Kelsey Skokan.
A loving wife, mother, and grandmother, who enjoyed reading, cooking, traveling, gardening, and photography. In her earlier years, she enjoyed skiing and boating with family and friends. Patricia lived a rich life and is surely now at peace.
Many thanks go to caregivers at Brookdale Longmont. Their attention and loving care is much appreciated by the family.
A celebration of life will be held at the Skokan property, 9889 North 51st St., Longmont, CO 80503, on March 25 at 2 p.m. and a memorial in Hudson Creek, MD at the end of July. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to The St. Paul’s Schools, PO Box 8100, Brooklandville, MD 21022 or Naples Baptist Church , 799 Rugby Drive, Hendersonville, NC 28791 Att: Women on Mission.
I’m very sorry to learn of Patricia’s passing. She was a remarkable and a kind person.