Patricia A. Risley December 20, 1951 - August 17, 2015

Patricia A. Risley, Patti to her friends and family, passed away Monday, August 17, 2015. She was born in Portland, Oregon, December 20, 1951 to Priscilla and Victor Risley, Jr. Patti resided at Black Butte Ranch.

Patti's strength and perseverance stemmed from her Oregon pioneering roots. Patti was one of three owners of American Wood Dryers Inc. in Clackamas, Oregon, where she was the president of operations for over 20 years. Patti volunteered in a second-grade classroom at Riverside Elementary School in Oak Grove for over 10 years. She was president of the board of directors for Challenge Center Enterprises and volunteered regularly for their fundraisers. In recent years she could also be found volunteering for Furry Friends Foundation.

Patti loved the outdoors and truly respected nature and all that it provides.

Often you could hear jazz playing on the radio while Patti was looking for the next wild creature to catch her eye.

She was an avid gardener with great knowledge of our Oregon native plants.

Her love for animals was obvious with the care she gave to her three horses: Shock, Champagne, and Skippy, and of course, her black Lab, Robert Redford.

Patti was always in search for that next epic view on top of one of her horses surrounded by our beautiful Central Oregon mountains.

At the age of 15 she was the youngest ski instructor at Mt. Hood Ski Bowl.

Nowadays you could have found her doing laps on the Red Chair at Hoodoo.

Patti worked hard in order to play hard. She was very proud of her woodpile and her stacking ability of the annual 12 cords of wood. Along with these types of outdoor activities she would improve herself at the gym. She grew to love pickleball, and her competitive spirit was apparent. Patti loved the science of cooking, and shared it by entertaining. She loved to enjoy all of these activities with the most wonderful friends. What would Patti say to us? "It's all about having fun."

Patti is survived by her son Gary Risley of Portland; aunt Patricia Bennett of Milwaukie; and sister Terri Risley of Newberg.

Remembrances can be made in her name to Partners in Care, Hospice House, Bend, OR and Furry Friends Foundation, Sisters, OR.

A celebration of life is planned for September 12 at 3 p.m. at Black Butte Ranch stables.