Patricia Rae Encinas Williams passed away on February 17, 2024, following a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Patty Peterson, the youngest of six children, was born in Lewiston, ID on June 23, 1964, to John and Jane Peterson.  Her first year was at the family home in Clarkston. After two years living on Mercer Island, the Peterson family moved to Oak Harbor in 1967, when Patty's dad purchased a business, the Credit Bureau of Island County. Patty grew up in the family's Fairway Lane home on the golf course, where she learned to golf at an early age and enjoyed playing kick the can with her friends on a neighbor's farm.  Especially, she loved bareback riding on her horse Rusty with lifelong best friend Michelle Bridges, through the many open spaces and trails that existed at that time, and even in the waters off West Beach.

Patty graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1982, and attended Washington State University for two years, returning home to take care of her mother as she began a journey through major medical issues that would mark the rest of her life.

Patty married John Encinas, and from that union came two children, Johnny and David, who became her life.  From the moment of their birth, nothing in Patty's life mattered more.  Her every decision was made out of love for them and with their best interests in mind.  As the boys grew, Patty's home became a gathering place and in many instances a refuge for their many friends.  Patty gave freely to them and became like a second mom to many of them. She had the rare ability to relate to them and the events and struggles of their lives.  As a result, many of them remain in contact and show her their love.

In 1991, Patty purchased the Credit Bureau of Island County from her parents,and devoted over 30 years of her life to providing quality service to her clients. Patty was very active in both state and national associations of collectors, and from 2002 to 2003 served as state president of the Washington Collectors Association.

In other avenues of service, Patty served the City of Oak Harbor for three years as a member of the City's civil service commission and was an active member of the Rotary Club of Oak Harbor for many years.  As a Rotarian, she chaired two very successful auction fund raisers and for her efforts she was awarded two Paul Harris fellowships.  Also, during her sons' high school careers, Patty served as a member of the board of the Oak Harbor High School Booster Club.

It was through Rotary that, in 2004, Patty met the love of her life, Dave Williams, and they quickly became inseparable despite their considerable age difference.  The highlight of their relationship was their wedding in December 2020.  Both Patty and Dave are forever grateful to Johnny and David, who handled their relationship with grace and acceptance despite being only 15 and 13 at the time Dave came into their lives.  Likewise, Dave's adult children, John and Lee, met and fell in love with Patty and she with them.  And Dave was accepted with warmth, hospitality and ultimately love by Patty's parents, brothers and sisters – the incredible Peterson family.

Patty was a person of great faith and was a member of the Oak Harbor First United Methodist Church.  She enjoyed her relationships with her church family and loved to gather with them in small groups when the opportunity presented itself.   She remained eternally grateful to the many who provided support, comfort and prayers along the way – family, church family and friends from near and far.  Especially over the past four years, new friendships were formed and old ones were revitalized, and these relationships became lifelines in the day-to-day ups and downs of her journey.

Throughout her battle with cancer, Patty's faith and indomitable spirit were always present.  She always looked for the good, kept her radiant smile and positive attitude, and set the example for us all.   Patty had a most amazing ability to "live in the moment", finding joy in each and every day despite the difficulties she faced. The cover of her most recent journal painted a word picture of Patty:  strong, beautiful, brave and courageous.  There could be no better description of her.

Patty was preceded in death by her parents, John and Jane Peterson, and by her older sister, Lynn Phillips.  She is survived by her sons Johnny, David Encinas (Emily) and her new granddaughter Stella Rae, by her husband Dave Williams and his two children John and Lee, by her siblings, Peggy Hamernik (Ken), Jack Peterson (Teresa), Todd Peterson (Cora Ann) and Tim Peterson, and by numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at Oak Harbor's First United Methodist Church at 11 o'clock on Saturday, March 23.  The service will also be live-streamed via the church's web site, https://oakharborfumc.org/live . In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bladder Cancer Awareness Network in honor of Patty by using the following link: Bladder Cancer Awareness Network. To share memories of Patty, please visit Evans Funeral Chapel website at https://www.evanschapel.com/obituary/patricia-encinas-williams .

A sign Patty chose for her garden shed reads, "Live life in full bloom."  And so she did.