Obituary of Patricia Tolley

Patricia Fike Tolley, age 85, passed away on November 26, 2020, at home in Melbourne, Florida, following a long illness.  She was born in Morgantown, West Virginia, graduated from Morgantown High School in 1953, and attended West Virginia University as a physical education major from 1953 to 1955, where she met and married her husband, Bill Tolley.  Bill and Pat lived in Parkersburg, West Virginia at first, but then moved to Melbourne in 1956, where they lived the remainder of their married life and raised a family.

Soon after moving to Melbourne Pat began her lifelong community involvement work with the Eau Gallie Junior Women's Club and Radiation Wives Club.  Her signification accomplishment began with raising matching funds for a private grant to build Brevard Hospital in the early 1960's, later known as Holmes Regional Medical Center. Pat served as one of the captains in the successful community effort.

In addition to being a devoted mother, wife, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Pat was involved with many community organizations, including Happy Landings Home For Boys in Melbourne, Muscular Dystrophy Association, and Hope United Methodist Church, where she served on the administrative board and sang in the church choir.  Pat's significant involvement was with the local and state Republican party beginning in 1990 when she served as the sergeant at arms with Federated Florida Republican Women, then president of Platinum Coast Republican Women, which later became Melbourne Area Federated Republican Women.  In her spare time, Pat's interests included crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, sewing, and playing tennis.  She was also a fan of the Orlando Magic basketball and NASCAR. 

Pat is survived by her husband Bill; children Jim (Dana); and Kim; grandchildren Justin (Valerie) and Travis; great grandchildren Trevor, Ethan, Lillian, and Sophia; sister Bette; and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Ruby and James Fike, son Tim, and sisters Eloise and Dorothy.

Funeral service will be held at First Baptist Church of South Brevard in Melbourne on Monday, December 7, at 11 am, followed by graveside service at Florida Memorial Gardens in Rockledge. 

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Muscular Dystrophy Association.