Obituary of Patricia DuBois

Patricia Ann (Pat) DuBois, 76, of Stuart, FL, and Valdosta, GA, passed away on September 11, 2015. She was her family's whole heart.

Pat was born on July 1, 1939, to James O'Neal Perkins, Sr., and Corrine Verdie Lawson in Plant City, FL. As the oldest, she was a rock for her eight siblings: James (Scooter) Perkins, Jr., Ronald (Lynn) Perkins, Mary (Harold) Dunkle, Cindy (Butch) Taylor, Jerry (Dee) Perkins, Stephanie (Don) Underdonk, Janice (Mike) Kunai, and Timothy (Kathy) Perkins.

When Pat was 16, she met the love of her life, Brooks DuBois, Sr., in a Miami drugstore where she was jerking sodas. Although she turned down the first dime he gave her to call him (by throwing it at his head), Pat and Brooks married in January 1956 and had five treasured children: Sherry Apostolopoulos, Mark (Suzanne) DuBois, Jeff (Randi) DuBois, Brett (Elizabeth) DuBois, and Brooks (Melissa) DuBois, Jr. She lived for the home she made with them.

Soon, Pat was building pallets on the floor of her bedroom for twelve grandchildren: Nick (Brianna) Apostolopoulos and Stormi (Gabe) Arrington; Jeffrey Clark, Chevon (Jeremy) Workman, and Wesley and Tyler DuBois; Terra (Brooke) DuBois; Melissa, Brittan, and Amanda DuBois; and Kathleen (Dan) Kelsay and Brooks (Brittney) DuBois, III. Through them, she became a Memaw to fourteen great-grandchildren: Trey Riva, Jake and Luke Arrington, and Ella and Raelyn Apostolopoulos; Jaiden, Joel, and Josie Workman; Tyrese Ceasar and Travis DuBois and Wyatt and Peyton Gulledge; and Emory Kelsay and McKenna DuBois. They all slept most soundly in her arms.

Even with her full house, there was always room for another at Pat's table. She welcomed everyone into her rooster-filled kitchen for a meal and housed anyone looking for a comfortable place to stay. She took in all who needed her. You didn't have to share her blood to be hers.

Pat was everyone's caregiver. After her children were grown, she worked as a Patient Care Technician at Martin Memorial Hospital for 18 years, inspiring an entirely new group of people to love her. She was a member of Ousley Baptist Church, where all the kids wanted to sit next to her.

Pat was predeceased by her sister Mary. She is survived by her mother; her devoted husband of almost 60 years; her cherished children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; many adored nieces, nephews, and cousins; and a wide world of good friends. Pat made everyone feel like they were her favorite. She is irreplaceable, and missed.

Pat's family will receive visitors on Wednesday, September 16, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Forest Hills Funeral Home in Palm City, FL. Services will follow at 11:00 a.m. that day. Condolences can be left online at http://www.foresthillspalmcityflorida.com.

Instead of flowers, contributions in Pat's honor can be made to the Ousley Baptist Church WMU Alumni Group (for the children), 8654 Ousley Rd, Valdosta, Georgia 31601. (But for those who prefer flowers, Pat loved gardenias.)