****If anyone has any trouble posting a comment, please email the comment directly to me and I will post it for you. whitley010101@gmail.com Thank you all! Whitley Little
LITTLE, MR. PATRICK BAILEY "PAT" Mr. Patrick "Pat" Bailey Little, age 58, a resident of Prattville, AL passed away on November 29, 2008 at a local hospital. Memorial service will be held on December 3, 2008, 11 AM at Brookside Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Charles Moseley officiating. Mr. Little was a USA Army Veteran and a member of Loyal Order of The Moose Lodge, and a member of Delta Ki Fraternity at The University of Montevallo. Survivors include, wife of 35 years, Jo Little of Prattville, AL; sons, John Christopher (Brittany) Little of Prattville, AL and Patrick Whitley Little of Prattville, AL; mother, Ann Rhea Little of Birmingham, AL; sisters, Jane (Henry) Pratt of Colorado and Sally (Pete) Holley of Birmingham, AL, Missy (Larry) Pitt of Birmingham, AL; brothers, Dan Little of Oneonta, AL, John (Debbie) Little of Argo, AL, Joe (Angie) Little of Trussville, AL; and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers the family request memorials be made to Cancer Center of Montgomery, AL. Brookside Funeral Home of Millbrook, AL Directing
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Thank you all so much for you memories and wonderful stories. My dad, "Pat" was an awesome man. I can't think of a single person who didn't like him. He was kind, smart, and big hearted, warm; never met a stranger, and he always had a joke to tell. Dad shaped who I am today. Over the past few weeks, I have heard some amazing stories about Dad.
Now, I have a story of my own to share just to show the kind of dad he was. When I was in the 5th grade, dad had just been laid off from Blount in Montgomery and while he was looking for another job, he had taken up contracting work. Odd and end jobs like painting a house of fixing someone's garage door. His work truck I think he paid about $8.00 for was a late 50's model Chevy. Most of it was black; the rest was primer and rust. There were even nice big holes in the floorboards so you could watch pavement speeding by.
Anyway, my brother and I made a big deal out of him taking us to school in that truck because we were embarrassed so Dad would drop us off just down the street from the school so no one would see us. I didn't think it about till much later how hurtful that must have been for him. But he did it. He did it because he loved my brother and I more than anything. So from putting chewed up apples on the lightning rods of the roof to make us believe in Santa to replacing cars that I destroyed, Dad was the best dad a kid could have. He made everything fun. We always thought he was really a federal agent or something. He could make the worst day seem like everything was okay. He loved us no matter what. He was my best friend. He was a big goofy kid that always tried to make everyone around him laugh. The ONLY people on this planet that dad did not like were people who didn't help other people or worse took advantage of others.
He loved mom like crazy. Almost every time I talked to him he would tell me if anything ever happens to him that I had to promise to look after mom and make sure NO ONE took advantage of her. They fought like two cats as Pops, my dad's dad would say. But they loved each other so much. Sometimes you would think that they hated each other but anyone who really knew them could tell by those moments when they were truly happy that they were meant for each other.
So, my father, I know you are looking down on me. You have my promise and my word that I will do as you asked. I will make you proud. I will never forget you and will carry you on in my heart and thoughts forever. I thank you Dad for teaching me about life and love and your zest for both. I love you dad and I miss you more than I will ever be able to express.
In the words of his favorite song..... "Someday I'll wish upon a star, Wake up where the clouds are far behind me where trouble melts like lemon drops High above the chimney top that's where you'll find me......"
His memory will live on through each of us. As much as I appreciate your gestures of sympathy I would like to offer all of you my most sincere condolences. He was an amazing friend and I know he will be looking down and watching over every single one of us.
Thank you all so much! God Bless.
Here are some of the letters and emails I received about Dad....
ReplyDeleteI knew your father. He was my brother in Christ. I will miss him, but I will smile when I think of him. He was a wonderful man, that was loving and thoughtful to so many that he came in contact with. He influenced a lot of peoples lives in a good, positive way.
I was blessed to know him and walk with him a short while on this earth.
Praise God.
Jack Stell
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Whitley: Thank you so much for letting us know about your Dad's passing. Words won't express how much we loved him and his great outlook on life as it was. Denise Sanchez, Steve Munsell and I are meeting tonight in Houston at the Richmond Arms Pub to remember and celebrate his life. Please tell Jo that Betty and I send our warmest regards and we know what a loss this must be to the family.
John Palmerton
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Whitley, John and Jo,
It's hard for me to express in words how sorry I am for your loss. I knew from the first time I met Pat, that I had met a friend for life, and he certainly lived up to that. We had traveled together many times and I always enjoyed Pat's positive outlook on any situation and his absolute zest for living life to the fullest. He certainly brought out the best in me and I will miss him dearly. I thought I would share a picture that Pat had sent me a while ago. We shared many common interests but always enjoyed talking about old things, especially cars, trucks and motor scooters. He couldn't wait to tell me about his Cushman and had to send me a picture.
Take comfort in knowing that Pat had touched the lives of many of us and our lives are richer because of him.
Please accept my deepest sympathy and heartfelt prayers,
Bob Drews
(The picture he sent me as the cover photo for this blog of Dad on his scooter)
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Thank you Whitley for letting me know. As always in these kind of situations I’m not sure there are words that fit what I’d like to convey. I thought it might be helpful for you and your family to know how others know him. I have worked off and on with your father for about 18 years. In our travels around the world I feel I got to know him as well as anyone. Even though we haven’t worked together or even seen each other since he left Pacific Valves 5 years ago we made it a point to talk almost every Friday evening since. Anyway,,,,I remember the first time I worked with your dad and the impression he left with me, I met him at the Houston airport in 1989. I was a Machinist and valve mechanic at the time working for Stockham. He was the salesman responsible for South America for Stockham. A company called Petro bras in Brazil was having trouble with some valves he had sold and so they wanted Pat and a mechanic to come down and fix the situation. I had never been out of the country before or for that matter even on a plane. At the very least I was nervous but excited. I had spoken to Pat a few days earlier on the phone and he had told me what gate to meet him at in airport. I asked him how would I recognize him. He said to me “ I’m a Gentleman from Alabama and you’ll know me when you see me”,,,,,I laughed and said OK.
Sure enough,,,,I get to the departure gate and theirs Pat,,,,,big wide Red suspenders and a big Straw hat. I walked up,,,shook his hand,,,,,he laughed and said I figured you couldn’t miss me. Anyway on the plane we visited during the flight talking about family,,,,kids,,,etc. We arrived at Sao Paulo Brazil and caught a cab to our hotel. It was Sunday morning about 11:00 Pm. Our work associate wasn’t going to pick us up for work till the next day. Beings we weren’t really tired he asked me if I liked to play cards. I said yea and we went to a little café outside the hotel,,,got a beer,,,a hamburger,,,he pulled a deck of cards out his shirt pocket and started playing Casina. Directly these street Urchins came around. They were kids about 10-12 and they were selling trinkets,,,Peanuts and what have ya. I figured to brush them off but not Pat. He said you boy’s look hungry. They answered in broken English,,,”Yes Sir. Pat had the waiter bring up 4 more chairs and ordered the kids hamburgers fries and cokes. Directly he started teaching the boys how to play cards telling them jokes and stories like they were his own. After an hour or so they ate they went on there way and we wasted away the afternoon playing cards till dark.
This is why your father is my friend and a friend to so many around the world. He was always kind,,,very generous and quick with a joke even if it was on himself. His wit and humor is as sharp as a razor and he always left the people he met with a good feeling be it from a surprise piece of candy or a joke and a smile. I as with many others will miss him.
Please let me know where the memorial services will be.
Todd
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Dear Patrick
Please extend your Mom and brother my condonlences.
Your Dad was a great man, always a friend.
He loved life, and making the best of it...
He loved fun, and savouring every moment...
he loved people, and for sure "he never met a stranger"...
He will be missed.
With my deepest sympathy
Gaspar Garcia de Paredes
Panama
****
A great man that I had the pleasure of meeting several times. My best regards
go to your family and Pat's friends, of whom I am sure there are many, Pat had
no enemies.
Yours
Scott & Sammy Gower
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Hello Whitley,
My deepest condolences on the loss of your dad.
Thanks for sending the email. I worked with your dad for many years at Stockham/Crane. We had the same birthday- 12/22 so we always made contact with each other off and on through out the years.
I can’t express the sadness I feel for you and your family. Your dad was a very witty, thoughtful, kind and funny man.
he never met a stranger. He was always making us laugh. We all had a lot of fun times with him. I’m glad I could call
him my friend. I will miss him very much.
God Bless you and your family. I will keep all of you in my prayers, especially during this holiday season.
Thank you,
Denise Sanchez
****
Dear Whitley,
It is with great sadness that I receive this mail. I am happy that he is at peace and no longer in suffering. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the rest of your Family and friends.
It was an honour to have known and met your father and I will remeber the happy moments and conversations I had with him. It will be impossible to forget him and will always regret that I was not able to talk to him before he passed away.
Take care allof you and God Bless you all.
With Kind Regards, Kin - Pat's friend in Belfast, Northern Ireland
****
Hi sweetie…
As you may have guessed, Chad and I will not be able to attend the service tomorrow. Please know we will be right there with you in spirit.
Chad and I both were fortunate enough to know your dad. That makes me smile. He was a wonderful person that was full of all the joys in life. He’d be happy to know you all plan to celebrate his life and his freedom from cancer and pain. Find your peace in that.
Call me if you need anything… it was only a few months ago that I was in your shoes…and you were there for me. Let me do the same for you.
Love you…
And give your mamma a super big hug from me!
Em
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Hope you all are doing okay. Love you much. Keeping you in our prayers. I know things seem tough right now. But this is just the closing of a chapter of a beautiful story of a wonderful and wise man. Now we must remember the pages of his life of adventure, reverence, guidance, wisdom and love. The days of travel and lights of lore that he shared with us all. When we were children he was like our own person Indiana Jones. These stories will always live on. As always, Patrick Little. Thank you for sharing your father with us all. Much love and prayers to you all.
Jen & Kids
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Oh my goodness Whit - I am so so sorry for your loss - please extend my sympathy to your brother and your mom - I loved your dad - he was the kindest man and I will miss his yearly phone calls at Christmas time - always looked forward to his "wazzzzzzzzzzz upppppppppppp" - big big hugs to you and your family.............
thinking of you constantly
with prayers and thoughts,
Love you guys,
Gina
p.s. if you by chance have a pic. handy of him - please fwd it to me - would love to see that simle again............
thanks,
Gina
****
My Dad, my best friend in the world , Patrick Bailey Little, past away tonight at 7:36 pm. He fought cancer and finally won that battle. He is at peace . He will suffer no more.
Words will never express how special the moment was that I was there when He took his last breath knowing he was there when I took my first .
I love you Dad and I will keep looking up.
Whitley
Here are a few more:
ReplyDeleteJo, Chris, and Whit,
Can't express enough my sadness to you and your family when I heard the news about Pat. Amie sent me this webpage from newspaper, as we don't take the news. So many wonderful memories in days gone by so long ago with such special neighbors. You were such terrific neighbors who shared such wonderful times w/us and my family. Pat was a wonderful father who even back then shared so much fun and love with his family and friends. We miss those times so much; it's just so hard to believe it was that long ago. I know Pat is in heaven and his peace is beyond our comprehension. We will truly miss but will remember him always. God bless all of you and please come to see me in Columbiana.
Love to all!
Lynne (Bearden) Dickerson
Lynne (Bearden) Dickerson (Columbiana, AL)
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December 11, 2008
I am so very sorry to hear about Pat, for those who miss him so are the ones I think about. I think of you all every time I pass through heading south from Birmingham, south from 868 School Avenue with the white house next door that occupied my favorite neighbors as a child, the Little's, who's kid's we rode bikes with or climbed in Chris and Whitley's treehouse until dark, or maybe even camped out one night in a washing machine or dryer box in your yard while Pat would come out to scare us on occasion or just bring us hot chocolate, with Mitsy the dog watching after us. The next day Pat might encourage us to go visit Ms. Kennedy across the street. Looking back we may have been her only visits, or maybe not....These are a few memories of Pat I wanted to share,nothing more or less, for that's all I remember from 20 something years ago. Pat, who had the cutest little wife named Jo and I thought that was so neat-Pat was the Dad and Jo was the mom. Keep all the memories close-he touched a thousand more lives in so many ways. He touched mine in such a short time, I'm sure. We recreate those things with our own kids, I only hope my kids neighborhood friends think I'm as cool and fun as the Little family.
Amie Bearden Stamba (Birmingham, AL)
Contact me
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December 4, 2008
From Kenny, Suzanne, Jacob, Matt, and Zack.
We will miss Pat dearly. He was like the older brother that I never had. We worked together, played together, traveled together, and have many stories to tell (that few would really believe, unless they really knew Pat and me).
Pat always spent time with my boys when they were small. We would go fishing together and he would tell them fascinating stories about life altering his voice into strange dialects from Chinese, to Indian-Hindu, to Walter Brennen, and of course a slow version of the Six Million Dollar Man.
Pat was a great friend of my Dad as well. One of the last times that I saw Pat was at my Dad's funeral. Pat was the only person from our previous employer to attend. Pat gave me a plant. He said that Jess wasn't a flowery kind of guy and he was right. I called it a bush; he said no, no it's a tree. It just looks like a bush. It was a Leland Cypress. I planted and it grew quickly. It reminds me of Pat and my Dad.
Jo and Family, thank you for sharing Pat with Suzanne, my boys, and me. We learned a great deal about life from him. We have all lost a great man. The world will be emptier without him. May God bless you all...
Kenny Corbett (Fairhope, AL)
Contact me
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December 2, 2008
We were so sorry to hear of your loss. The thoughts of many are with you at this time of sorrow.
Stone & Sons Electrical Contractors (BIRMINGHAM, AL)
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December 2, 2008
I'm sorry to hear about Pat. I remember when he learned to ride my bicycle first when I lived across the street. Please tell Miss Ann that I'm thinking of all the family. Regards, Karen Smith Jennings
Karen Jennings (Alexander City, AL)
Dear Jo, Chris and Whitley,
ReplyDeleteThanks to Whitley for letting me know of his blog remembering his Dad. My very best to Chris and Jo as I know you will all miss him.
So many things have been said about Pat that it is difficult to know where to start without rambling. I am full of Pat, his influence with never leave me. We had the very best of times especially when we were young, not to discount the ones we had as teens and adults but those were so special. Pat was 5 months older than I and we were as thick as thieves. I tried to be with him at very opportunity either at their home or Grandmother and Papaw's, especially when they lived in ACIPCO.
Sliding down the front lawn or cardboard boxes, playing rock-school (and cheating the girls) or playing War at ACIPCO Park at the old cannon. Cowboys and Indians most anywhere, some imaginary adventure at Big Rock or down in the hollar.
Spending summer nights at Grandmother's and Papaw's down in the basement with it cool concrete floors and Uncle Jack's Gas Mask. Daring the other to see what Grandmother might have in the old fridge in the basement that (I believe Papaw kept ungrounded on propose) would shock the crap outta ya.
Showering down there when we were so dirty that Grandmother wouldn't let us back in the house until we did. I can't remember ever having a bad time with Pat even when he shot George in the head with a B-B gun. I could go on forever but I won't and its difficult. I love you, Pat. I also know that love is shared with many people. God Bless, Jim Whitley (cousin)
From Jane Alexander:
ReplyDeleteHey Whitley, I have you all
on my mind and in my heart
and prayers. Looking back I
have so many memories with Jo
(and Carmen and Lou) all my
life. You know we were
something like 13, 12 adn 11
when Earl came along. Then Jo
had baby boy Chis and a
little later when Jo met Pat
and they married we lived in
that duplex with them on
southside. I had been trying
to get pregnant for 6 years
and nothing was happening.
THEN one spring it happened,
Jo was late and then I was
late and hallelujah we were
pregnant with you and Hollyn.
You came in Dec and Hollyn in
January.Your daddy was a
hardworking witty man who
loved his family
unconditionally. I hope all
the memories you each have of
the time you blessed to spend
with him during his alloted
time on earth were sweet and
loving and full of amazing
memories. Please tell Jo
she's in my prayer and I'm
here to talk whenever she
wants to.
Let us never forget the wonder that was "Pat". I think of him everyday and reminisce about one thing or another. We have lost him in death but let us not loose me in our hearts. Keep those cards and letters coming in least we forget him.
ReplyDeleteCousin Jim Whitley
PAT LITTLE ( comments by Robert P Whitley-Pat's uncle)
ReplyDeletePat had an affliction that I too either inherited or independently acquired. Saving everything!
After dad ( paw -paw) died -9/05/1975- , I brought Dad's anvil and disk sander to my home in Huntsville. the sander had been used by dad's dad, my grandfather, and dad kept it after grandfather died. I made a table for it but it is basically just as dad used it and as grandfather used it. I think that it may have been made by a Mr blue that lived close to us in acipco and who worked at acipco pipe shop and if so, probably made it there. I'm not certain of the blue,acipco relationship. In any event , it's old dating back to well into the 30's. Regarding the anvil, I'm not sure of when , or how, dad dad got it. I am sure that it dates from the 20's since I remember it from my earliest years. It is a piece of railroad rail mounted on a short section of railroad tie. It is in the same configuration and mounted on the same tie as it was when i was a boy . I may have added the strap for a hammer or dad may have done that.
during the last couple of years I have enjoyed communicating with pat by phone and INTERNET. During one of those talks , I mentioned the anvil in particular. Pat said that when he and George visited paw paw, he would give them a bunch of bent nails , a hammer , and instructions to straighten them. I believe that pat said that dad would pay them a few cents per hundred- probably a nickel. In any event pat sounded interested and I told him that I wasn't using either the sander or the anvil and I would love for him to have them . I took them to the '08 reunion and I was afraid that Pat would not get them home. I was very pleased when Chris told me that both of them had been brought to Prattville and he unloaded it. I suspect that Pat didn't have a chance to straighten any more nails .
I would like to say how shocked and saddened I am to discover that Pat Little has passed away. I knew him when I was a young woman in 1971-72 and loved him. We have been out of touch since then but I could never forget him. It is clear that he deeply touched many, many lives during his short stay on earth. My best to his family. DKF
ReplyDeleteFrom Mrs. Jesse Corbett,
ReplyDeleteI just want you to know what a good friend Pat was to my late husband. They worked together and played together. Jesse and Pat confided in each other about their work and their lives. Things no one except the two of them will ever know. Pat called weekly to check on Jesse's health when he was so sick. Some days Jesse would not feel up to talking and Pat would talk to me. I will never forget his concern. I wish I could have been the friend to him that he was to us.
May God Bless You and Yours,
Billie Corbett
I hope we can keep Pat alive in the only way possible, remembering him. I hope that all are doing well especially Aunt Anne, Jo, Chris and Whitley as well as his many friends. If we have a reunion this years at John & Debbie's were should make it a day of rememberence, and Pat would want that to be a day of fun and family. Love to all, Jim Whitley
ReplyDeleteJim,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. As long as I am alive I will keep his memory alive. Through his friends and family he will always be with us. Jim, your friendship meant so much to Dad and he talked about you all the time. Thank you.
Happy Father's Day Dad. I miss you so much.....
ReplyDeleteI love you so much Dad.
ReplyDelete