BOMBER MEMORIAL

MURAL MARIE NICHOLS PATRICK ~ Class of 1954
November 17, 1935 - June 21, 2010

~

Mural was born in a tool shed on a peach orchard in the Mohave Desert, CA on November 17, 1935. She transitioned from labor to reward on June 21, 2010.

She was born to Marge and William Nichols, a migrant worker, and was the eldest daughter and second child of eight. Although her family moved often because of the nature of her father's work, Mural was raised mostly in Washington State. In fact, she helped to build her family's house in Richland.

Mural was a dedicated student throughout her elementary and high school careers. She was a trailblazer in the face of gender bias and sexism: despite having the highest grade point average in her high school's graduating class, male faculty members and administrators attempted to deny her the honor that she had earned. Mural, however, was not to be denied. She fought them and won, and was her high school's valedictorian for class of 1954. She displayed a kind of tenacity and a passion for justice that she continued to exhibit throughout her life.

Mural went on to study nursing at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, where she met a young intern named Carlton Evans Patrick from Trinidad, West Indies. Carl and Mural were married on November 2, 1962. Mural's marriage to Carl cost her greatly. Their interracial marriage, that was illegal in many states until 1967, resulted in harassment by police and alienation by some family members, but it did not change their dedication to each other. In 1963, they welcomed to the world their first daughter, Michelle. She was followed by their son, Kevin, and daughters Melanie, Adrienne and Halona.

Mural was a fulltime wife, mother and homemaker, and an extremely talented, yet humble and modest artist. She could draw, paint, sculpt and design almost anything using practically any medium. The Patrick family home had evidence of Mural's talents all around. Before Christmas and Easter, Mural could be found in the fabric store choosing patterns and fabric for the children's holiday outfits. Mural also took great pride in preparing beautiful and elaborate gourmet meals for her family for Christmas and Thanksgiving up until only a few years ago.

Mural's love of God and service to the church was the center of her joy, and was living proof that, "to whom much is given, much is required" (Luke 12:48). Mural was in the first Diocesan-established program for the licensing of Lay Eucharistic Ministers. At St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Ardsley, NY she served as Junior Warden, Senior Warden and a member of the vestry. She taught Sunday School and was Sunday School Superintendent at Grace Episcopal Church in White Plains, NY. She was a lay reader and member of the choir. She served as a parish representative at Region II council meetings for the Episcopal Archdiocese of New York.

Mural also used her God-given artistic gifts to serve the church. She was a founding member of Knitted in Grace, and designed the altar frontal first used following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, as well as hangings used during Pentecost, and ones that trace the history of the rectors of Grace Church.

After Carl's death in 2009, Mural's health declined rapidly, and she was diagnosed with active heart failure. Despite the decline, she found most pleasure spending time with her children and grandchildren, whom she cherished most of all. Although she had planned to move in with one of her daughters, son-in-law and granddaughter, her health took a precipitous turn for the worse, and she was told that she would not survive the transfer from the hospital to their home.

Determined to die on her own terms, Mural summoned together all of her children, their spouses and her grandchildren to say goodbye. She requested that she be taken off support and wanted only pain-relieving measures. In the most peaceful way, and surrounded by all of her children, she wound down until she took her last breath just after midnight on June 21, 2010.

Mural is survived by seven siblings; her children Michelle (Bruce); Kevin (Jodi); Melanie;Adrienne; and Halona (Ted); her grandsons Alek, Jack, Ty, Jesse and Naf'tali, her granddaughters Mia, Amziel, and Amali. Mural tried to hold out for the birth of her 9th grandchild. While she could not meet him on this side, she knew his name, and perhaps is holding him a little longer before God sends him into this world.

Memory Book.