Patricia Ann Berges

Patricia Berges, age 84, passed away peacefully at Lake Gibson Village in Lakeland Florida on Mother’s Day, May 14, 2023.

Born Patsy Ann Hunley, May 12,1939 in Chattanooga, Tennessee to parents Noel Ruston and Billie Mae (Sain) Hunley. She had one sister, Judy (Hunley) McGrath. The family, including her Grandparents, David and Mattie Sain moved from Tennessee to Florida in the mid 1950's

Patricia graduated with Honors from Lakeland High School in 1957, she was a member of the Torch Club, National Honor Society, and the Dreadnaught Band, (Clarinet, Head Majorette and Band Officer), she was VP of the state Latin Forum, member of the senior class play, and the Classical Club.

Married 4.30.58, Lakeland, FL to Clarence (Sonny) Edward Sharrett Jr.
Married 6.14.77, Lakeland, FL to Dr. Ramon Berges

Pat worked at the Watson Clinic for 30 years as an Administrative Assistant, Patient Accounts Supervisor, and the clinic’s first Personnel Manager. She was an excellent stenographer and typed over 100 wpm. Other employment included the Business Training Institute as a Medical Office Instructor and for Lakeland Presbyterian Homes as the Lake Hunter Homes administrator.

After retirement, Pat and Ramon lived in Manchester, Tennessee for 17 years. While there, Pat was a member of and the Publications Editor for the Coffee County Historical Society. One of her treasured accomplishments was helping to publish multiple volumes of the Coffee County Chronicle; Civil War Soldiers of Coffee County from 30 years’ worth of collected questionnaires and material.

Pat had a keen interest in genealogy and made it her mission, to research her family lineage. Pat’s maternal family, being a direct descendant of Alexander E. Coulson and Abigail Myers Coulson, were founding families of Coffee County Tennessee, when it was established in 1836.

Pat was an avid reader with an extensive book collection that took up an entire wall of her house. She loved history, especially Revolutionary and Civil War history. Among her favorite writers was Charles Dickens, and favorite story being a Christmas Carol with Ebenezer Scrooge. Upon moving back to Florida in 2021, she donated most of her books to Lake Gibson Village for other residents to read and enjoy.

Pat loved ghost stories, old classic horror films, mysteries, detective shows, classic black and white movies, and musicals. She had a great sense of humor and adored the Carol Burnett show, Hee Haw, and the Muppets.

Pat was also a word enthusiast who loved crosswords and writing stories and poems. She is published in 2001 QPB presents World’s Best Stories of All Time. She loved playing word games and was a formidable Scrabble player who rarely lost a word challenge or a game. It was only when she was in her senior years that she allowed her kids to beat her. When she was younger, she won a 1957 Chevy by making 6,600 words out of certain letters/words that the contest coordinators sent out.

Pat was an artist, musician, and singer. She played clarinet in High School, went to both district and state solo and ensemble contests, and loved to play the piano and sang in the church choir. She was a natural, self-trained artist with an amazing eye for detail who loved sketching and later in life, made her own greeting cards. She enjoyed many genres of music and always had a great variety in her house (classical, rock, pop, country, bluegrass, folk, soul, disco, Latin, old church hymns, opera and others). She was a wonderful dancer with great rhythm and was a great whistler, saying she picked it up from her Granddaddy.

Pat was a sewer and loved to quilt and embroider using her artistic eye and needle working skill. She won many ribbons in quilting shows over the years. She made many of her own clothes, as well as clothes for John and David when they were kids. Pat lovingly made quilts, wreaths, book covers, pillowcases and sweaters for her friends, family, and grandkids.

Pat enjoyed cooking and baking with a love for country fare. She also added a bit of Latin flair to her cooking for her husband, Ramon. She published a family recipe book, and her kids will tell you that her Sausage Gravy, Spanish Bean Soup, Cherry Muffins and Sour Cream/ Brown Sugar pound cakes were family favorites.

Pat loved the Lord and enjoyed reading and studying the Bible. She was a Sunday School teacher as a member of Lakeside Baptist Church, Lakeland FL. She also attended St. Joseph Catholic Church, Lakeland, FL with her husband Ramon and more recently was a member of
1st Baptist Church, Manchester TN where she enjoyed fellowship with her Bible Study group.

What she treasured most in this life was spending time with family and especially her grandchildren.

She is survived by her two sons, David Sharrett (Michelle) Lakeland, FL, John Sharrett (Becky) Gig Harbor, WA, stepdaughter Japonesa Maria Berges, Miami, FL, stepsons Ramon Berges (Beatriz) and Luis Berges (Miami, FL). Grandchildren, Storm, Ashton (Brielle), Cassidy, Aaron and Erica Sharrett, Victoria and William Read, Lisa, Megan, and Matthew (Leanna) Berges. Great granddaughter Elsie Sharrett. Cousins Greta Dajani, Buford Brown, David Brown, Cindy Anderson, and Karen Daniel.

She is predeceased by her husband Ramon Berges, her parents Noel and Billie Hunley, her sister Judy McGrath and stepdaughter-in-law Myrna Berges who went to be with the Lord the same day as Pat.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the wonderful staff at Davita Lakeland Dialysis Center and Lake Gibson Village for their love and care for Pat since her move back to Florida in 2021.

Services will be held at Lakeland Funeral Home on Saturday, May 27, 2023. Visitation from 11 AM - 12 PM, service at 12 PM.

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