Patricia Lorraine Williams Speer

Patricia Lorraine Williams Speer was born November 25, 1929, to Thomas Read Williams and Jimmie Davis Williams. She was one of the first babies born in the newly built Valley Baptist Hospital in Harlingen, Texas. Patricia passed away August 13, 2023 in Harlingen at the age of 93.

Patricia grew up in Harlingen and as a teenager she enjoyed her time working as a "soda jerk" in her father's drug store, Rio Grande Pharmacy, the first pharmacy in the city. Patricia attended Harlingen High School where she was a cheerleader and was elected Most Beautiful in her class. She graduated from Harlingen High school in 1946 and attended Mary Baldwin College in Virginia for 2 years before transferring to the University of Texas. At UT she received a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy in 1951 and was a member of Pi Phi sorority. Following in her father's footsteps, Patricia was one of two women to sit for and pass the licensure examination given by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy in 1951. She then returned to Harlingen to work as a pharmacist for her father in the same store where she had been a "soda jerk."

On November 29, 1952, Patricia married John Michael "Mike" Speer, a land man for Shell Oil Company, in the First Methodist Church in Harlingen. Patricia and Mike had 2 children, Molly Patricia and John Michael, Jr.. They lived in South and East Texas for 10 years before she returned to Harlingen. She then worked for Day's Drug Store, McPherson's Pharmacy, and the Rio Grande State Center for Mental Health, where she was hired as Chief Pharmacist. Patricia retired from the Rio Grande Center for MHMR after 23 years of service. She was a passionate advocate for mental health treatment. In her retirement she enjoyed consuming and preparing gourmet dishes and watching college football with her son, especially her beloved UT Longhorns.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Dr. Thomas Read Williams, Jr. and his wife, June Ella Williams

Left to treasure Patricia’s memory is her daughter and son-in-law, Molly and Jerry Wood of Fort Worth; her son, John Michael Speer Jr. of Harlingen; her grandchildren, Bianca Speer of Wheaton, Illinois; Elizabeth Speer of Dublin, Ireland; and Trevor Speer of Wheaton, Illinois; niece, Risa Williams Hensley and her husband Brian of Bolivar, Missouri.

A graveside service will take place Friday, August 18, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. in the mausoleum chapel at Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Benito.