Patricia A. Gannis

Patricia A. Gannis Obituary May 13, 1938 — April 28, 2024 

Pat Gannis received her last wish on April 28, 2024 when she left this earthly world to join her heavenly Father and thus avoid moving to an assisted living facility. A few days earlier Pat had fallen in her kitchen and was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. After receiving the best of care, she died peacefully early the next Sunday morning. 

Born in Memphis on “lucky” Friday the 13th of May, 1938, Pat was immediately adopted by James L. and Alberta McCauley Archie and moved to Nashville where she grew up attending local schools and Belmont United Methodist Church. As a child she played frequently with her only now living relative, a first cousin, R. C. McCauley, Jr. (Foots) who lives in Huntsville, Alabama with his wife of 65 years, Angele. Pat often told the story of arranging a blind date for Foots with her dear classmate, Angele, which resulted in this long and happy marriage. 

At age 15, just after completing her freshman year at East High School, Pat moved to live with her adopted grandparents due to conflict with her alcoholic adoptive father. Later that fall she was enrolled at Baxter Seminary, a Methodist boarding school located near Cookeville, Tennessee. Unfortunately, Pat’s adoptive mother passed away the next year. 

Following graduation from Baxter Seminary in 1956, Pat moved back to Nashville to live with her grandparents, and she began working at what was then called Southern Bell as a customer service representative. She loved the work and continued as an employee there for thirty years retiring in 1986 when the company closed their Nashville office and asked her to move to Charlotte, North Carolina. She then went to work full time at The United Methodist Publishing House and worked there for 17 years, retiring in 2003. 

Her adoptive father passed away in 1957, and “yes”, Pat attended his funeral. By that time she had moved into her own home. On September 30, 1959, Pat married Thomas G. Gannis and moved to Chicago. She hated living there. They made fun of her “southern” accent. Eventually, Pat and Tom moved back to Nashville, with Pat continuing to work for the “Bell” companies throughout this time. 

She became an active member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Franklin Road in Nashville. Tom was Greek and a member there, though he did not attend often. In 1969, Tom left home for a trial separation and never returned. Pat resisted the divorce (against her beliefs) but he finally went to court, and they were divorced on April 10, 1970. 

For the next ten years, Pat “ran wild” (her words) trying to cope with all the trauma and loss in her life. In 1980 she met a wonderful man and was truly in love again but lost him to a heart attack in April of 1981. 

In 2001 Pat was diagnosed with breast cancer. Following surgery, chemo, and radiation, she survived and celebrated 20 years being cancer free in 2021. She also had a series of falls over the years, breaking the same foot twice. 

Pat had continued to attend Holy Trinity. Though she loved the people there and they her, she felt unsatisfied. One Sunday, she woke up and decided to go back to Belmont United Methodist Church in Hillsboro Village where she was confirmed as a young teen. As she sat in the worship service that Sunday, she said in her heart, “I am home”, and joined the church again after these many years. 

Since that time, Pat was an active member attending Sunday School, the women’s mission circle, and even jointly teaching a discipleship course with her friend Mary Helen Marigza, a retired missionary to the Philippines. Pat loved attending the annual all church retreat at Beersheba Springs Assembly. She was an evangelist for Belmont. She never met a stranger, and diligently encouraged visitors to join Belmont. No longer able to attend in person due to mobility issues in her later years, Pat never missed Sunday School or church by participating through her computer on Zoom. Pat was very independent. She drove herself to the ER both times she broke her foot. During her cancer treatments, she drove herself for chemo and radiation early in the morning and then drove on to work. She continued to drive even when she struggled to walk to her car from her front door using a cane. She regularly refused the help of paramedics when she would fall at Krogers. 

Pat was loyal. She prided herself on giving excellent customer service both at AT&T and The United Methodist Publishing House. During her last years, being virtually homebound, she developed friendships on the telephone with her insurance agent, her banker, homeowners association staff, the Kroger pharmacy, and any others who would accommodate her desire to talk on the phone. One of her best friends was her postman who went out of his way to be sure she received her mail each day and assisted her with small tasks in her home. 

Pat loved knitting and crocheting. She knitted caps and scarves for the homeless. She knitted “prayer shawls” for the sick and hospitalized. She loved needlepoint and decorated her house with her beautiful, framed art. She loved cats and always had one until she was no longer able. Most of all, she loved Belmont United Methodist Church and supported it generously while living, and in death through her estate. 

Pat’s friends and fellow church members are invited to celebrate her life on Saturday May 11 at 2 pm in the chapel at Belmont United Methodist Church, 2007 Acklen Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212. At the end of the service, Pat’s ashes will be placed in the church’s columbarium located behind the chapel. Her beloved Seekers Sunday School class will host a reception in her honor in the Iris Room following the service. 

Donations in Pat’s honor are welcomed at Belmont UMC, Camp Bluebird, and the American Cancer Society