Patrick M. Stitzel

Patrick M. Stitzel, 51, died May 3 of natural causes at his home in Union.

A celebration of life will begin at 1 p.m. Friday at the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show Grounds in Union. The service will be followed with a gathering and potluck at the EOLS Clubhouse

Known as Pat, he was born Oct. 3, 1955, to Marion and Alice Stitzel in La Grande. He lived in Union all of his life, graduating in 1973 from Union High School, where he participated in 4-H and FFA activities as well as football and basketball.

He was married to Nancy Clark from 1974 until 1980, and his son, Travis was born in 1975.

Pat met Laurie Bird Davis in 1980 and they were married May 25, 1983, in The Dalles.

His younger years were spent riding saddle bronc horses at rodeos. He went as far as Louisiana with his friends in 1981. He became paralyzed in a saddle bronc accident in 1982.

The accident made him a stronger and more self-reliant person, never slowing him down. He continued riding after that, team roping and team penning. Pat again had a serious accident as a pick-up man at a rodeo in 1995, but after healing continued on without missing a beat.

He was a familiar face on Thursdays at the sale yards in La Grande, buying and selling for many local farmers and ranchers. He also worked for Terry Trailers and Hoff Lumber companies.

He participated in the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show in various positions, including director, arena director, stall manager and court chaperone and carried the American flag at grand entries through 2006.

Horseracing was his passion, and his best buddy Bill Ricker helped make that possible right up until his death. He raced his beloved "Zee Chulupa" as recently as April 29. His daily routine included visits twice daily at The Hut and Gravy Dave's restaurants in Union for coffee and "church" with his regular congregation of buddies.

Pat was a dedicated deer and elk hunter with pals John and Katelyn Hefner. He especially enjoyed camping and traveling with his wife, Laurie.

Some of the highlights of his life were his four trips to board a plane and fly to Alaska to spend time with his brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Jeanne Stitzel.

Survivors include his wife, Laurie; sons and their spouses, Travis and Kelsey Stitzel of Cove, Cory Davis and Deanne Mallon of Union and Dustin and Amanda Davis of Meridian, Idaho; five grandchildren; parents, Marion and Alice Stitzel of Union; siblings and their spouses, Mike and Jeanne Stitzel of Valdez, Alaska and Tina and Bill Taylor of Pendleton; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephew and cousins; and special buddies, Ty, Spanky and Cranky Cookie.

Memorials may be made to any community bank.