Patricia Helen Edelman

Funeral services for Patricia "Pat" Edelman will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, April 6, 2012 at Gillette Memorial Chapel with Pastor Martin Crump of the Family Life Church officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Thursday, April 5, 2012 at Gillette Memorial Chapel.Patricia C. "Pat" Edelman left this life to continue her journey with her husband and son on March 31, 2012. Pat was born in East St. Louis, Illinois on April 1, 1940 to Clarence Lawrence and Dorothy (Nolan) Courtney. Pat grew up in Illinois, graduating from high school and attending pharmacy school for about a year. Summers would often be spent travelling to Wyoming and spending time in the Big Horns in Story, Wyoming. It was there that she met her future husband Anthony "Tony" Edelman. They dated for several months, ultimately marrying on November 28, 1962 in Belleville, Illinois. Pat and Tony initially made their home in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where Tony served in the U.S. Army. After completing his time in the army, Pat and Tony returned to Wyoming and lived in Tony's home town of Gillette, Wyoming. It was in Gillette that they began their family. First born were twin girls who survived only minutes. Next came four children in four years, Bill, Rone (deceased), Cathy, and Karen. Once all four children became "self sufficient" which by Pat and Tony's standards meant capable of understanding the phrase "Just wait until your father gets home!" Pat began a journey that would become one of her passions. Initially, Pat remodeled the rear of what was then the Corner Drug Store and opened a small retail gift shop, Pat's Card and Gift. After several years of operating the card shop in the back of that building, Corner Drug closed its doors and Pat moved the card store into the front of the building and Pat's Hallmark came into existence. In 1988, the interior of the store was destroyed by a fire. As usual Pat turned this tragedy into a positive. The store was remodeled by her youngest son Rone. Although all the children worked in the family business in one capacity or another ultimately Pats dream was passed onto her youngest daughter Karen who eventually became a part owner and continues Pat's legacy. Probably anyone who has lived in Gillette for any period of time has purchased a card or gift that was selected by Pat during one of her many trips to Denver, Atlanta, or San Francisco for merchandise marts. Pat treated all her customers and employees as if they were family. After establishing Pat's Hallmark, Pat thought Gillette needed a store for the cook in all of us. And since the building next to the Hallmark Store was vacant, she opened The Cooks Nook. Pat's passion for sales moved quickly from cards and gifts to kitchen appliances, gadgets, and coffee. For nearly 36 years, shoppers could find Pat running a vacuum, dusting shelves, or standing behind the register of the Hallmark Store or the Cooks Nook. Once both stores were up and running, Pat turned her attention to what would become her final and most important project of her life, spoiling her grandkids. Although all of her children were grown and had families and homes of their own, Pat was always the hostess, cook, and planner for birthday parties, anniversaries, Thanksgiving Dinner and Christmas. Always preparing each persons personal request and having it in the table at exactly 6 pm. She loved all her grandchildren deeply and enjoyed attending and supporting them in their many activities including basketball, tennis, baseball, and theatre. Approximately seven years ago, Pat was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and although she put in a long battle, she finally succumbed to the illness on March 31, 2012. She now sits above us, joining her husband Tony and her son, Rone to look down upon us all.Pat is survived by her brother, David (Mary) Courtney, three children: Bill (Kathryn) Edelman, Cathy (Rickey) Moore, and Karen (Mike) Cook, and seven grand children: Michael and Paige Cook, Carl and Rachel Edelman, and Alex, Allison, and Joel Moore. She was proceeded in death by her husband, Anthony W. Edelman Sr., twin daughters, her son, Anthony W. "Rone" Edelman, Jr., and her parents, Clarence L. Courtney and Dorothy Reed.Memorials and condolences may be sent in Pat's name in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel, 210 W. 5th Street, Gillette, Wyoming 82716 or condolences via the internet at www.gillettememorialchapel.com.Funeral Home:Gillette Memorial Chapel210 West Fifth Street Gillette, WYUS 82716