Patricia Elise Tabor

Patricia Mabry Bowers Tabor (Pat), 72 of Hendersonville passed away on Sunday, December 12, 2010 at her home after an extended illness.

Born in Toccoa, GA, Pat was one of eight children to the late Otho and Mae Elise Mabry. After graduating from Toccoa High School in 1956, she married Paul E. Bowers. Leaving Toccoa behind, Pat and Paul moved to Enka-Candler. While living in Candler, they built a home at Piney Mountain, which Pat truly loved. They cared for their children in this home and bestowed upon them a good example of Christian living.

Over the years, Pat worked in a variety of office and clerical jobs for BASF until her retirement. She made many friends in her years of loyal service with BASF and enjoyed and carried on the relationships that were formed during this time. Pat was an active member of Oak Forest Presbyterian Church in Asheville, where she and Paul served as youth group leaders for many years.

After Paul’s passing in 1984, Pat married Robert (Tony) Tabor in 1995. She and Tony made their home in Hendersonville.

Pat was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Hendersonville at the time of her death. She volunteered for Henderson County Relay for Life and organized activities for fund raising for the Relay. She also volunteered her time with Interfaith Ministries. She was an active member of the Sarah Circle at Grace Lutheran Church. Pat also was a member of the American Contract Bridge League and the Red Hat Ladies Society.

Pat was an avid supporter of any athletic contests or activities in which her grandchildren participated. She especially loved high school and college football, and she and Tony burned up the road on weekends supporting their grandchildren’s athletic events.

Pat loved to play cards and was a diehard Carolina Tar Heels Basketball fan. She was able to fulfill a dream of hers by attending a game in the Dean Dome while a patient at Duke University during her first struggle with cancer in 1990. She was a great cook, and holiday activities with her children and grandchildren were a big part of her life after her retirement. She loved to travel and was able to see a good bit of the United States with Tony during their adventures while they visited their children and grandchildren .

Pat was truly loved and will be terribly missed by her surviving family; her husband, Tony Tabor; four children, Rick Bowers and wife, Donna of Candler, Elise Bjork and husband, Robert of San Diego, CA, Paula Pinkerton and husband, John of Bogart, GA, and Jimmy Bowers and wife, Jennifer of Candler; three step sons, Joe Tabor and wife, Holly of Tucson, AZ; Tim Tabor and wife, Kathy of Spring Lake, MI, and Eric Tabor and wife, Reagan of Memphis, TN; 16 grandchildren, Garrison and Olivia Bowers of Asheville, Robby, Carlton, Claire, and Victoria Bjork of San Diego, CA, Michael, James, and David Pinkerton of Athens, GA, Sondra, Eric, Sam, and Martha Tabor of Memphis, TN; Ann, Stephanie, and Thomas Tabor from Spring Lake, MI; a great granddaughter, Charlotte Bowers of Charleston, SC; sisters and brothers, Sarah Elizabeth Pannell, Kathryn Durden, Joyce Bleckley and husband, Wayne, all of Toccoa, GA, Curtis Mabry and wife, Linda, Walter Mabry and wife, Gail, all of Clarksville, GA, and Gussie Mae Mabry of Hartwell, GA; and a number of nieces and nephews, whom she was very close to and took an active interest in each of them.

In addition to her parents and first husband, Paul Bowers, she was preceded in death by a brother Otho Mabry, Jr., a sister, May Ann Dover, and a nephew, Jeff Bleckley.

Pat will be remembered for her steadfast courage, strength, and determination in times of crises; her sense of humor; and for the love and appreciation she showed to her family. She accepted the love of Jesus Christ and demonstrated the faith to follow his teachings throughout her life. While we are mourning our loss of this beautiful life, we know Pat is surrounded by family and friends that are celebrating their reunion in heaven.

A Celebration of Patís Life will be held at 1 PM Saturday, December 18, 2010 at Grace Lutheran Church. Reverend Greg Williams will officiate and Reverend Gale Lammey will assist. Following a brief reception hosted by the Sarah Circle, the graveside service will take place at 4 PM Saturday at Oak Forest Presbyterian Church in Asheville, where Pat will be laid to rest next to her late husband, Paul Bowers.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Sarah Circle at Grace Lutheran Church, 1245 6th Ave West, Hendersonville, NC 28791.