Obituary of Patricia Therese Burleson

Patricia “Pat” Therese Burleson was a lifelong resident of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties. She passed peacefully at home, surrounded by family members in Santa Cruz on Saturday morning, April 25, due to complications of leukemia. Pat was born in Monterey, California, on October 3, 1932, to Chester (“Ted”) and Loretta (Kelly) Henneken. Pat was the only child of Ted and Loretta; she had three half-siblings from her mom’s marriage to George Pollock, Sr. Pat was so very proud of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and enjoyed hearing of their daily lives and especially of their adventures. She had an entrepreneurial spirit and ran a hydroponically-grown sprouts business and sold handcrafted sheepskin clothing and slippers. Pat enjoyed gardening, family genealogy and was a talented artist who enjoyed crafting art with clay, leatherwork, and watercolors. She got a special twinkle in her eye when meeting new friends at bingo and she enjoyed poker, betting on horses, and lottery tickets. Pat’s trips with friends Rose and Joe Mello to destination casinos were amongst her favorite jaunts. She had a lifelong love of horses, both at the track and in her own pastures, and also enjoyed researching horse lineage. Pat and her husband, Dr. Ferris Burleson, were well-known in the Carmel area for their Fancyfoot Farm. Founded in the fall of 1967, and lasting for almost two decades, many visited their farm two miles out Carmel Valley Road, known for its white barn with red roof, a plethora of broodmares and beautifully colored Appaloosa horses. Their ownership included raising a prized stallion, Hot Biscuit, who was a grandson of the famous Thoroughbred racehorse, Seabiscuit. Pat was twice widowed with the passing of her first husband, Frank Wolcott (1959), and her late husband, Dr. Ferris Burleson (1984). She was also preceded in death by her father, Chester (Ted) Henneken, her mother, Loretta Pollock, her brother, George Pollock, Jr., her twin sons, Frank and John Wolcott, her stepson, Gary Burleson, and her granddaughter, Susan Kenwood. Pat is survived by her sisters, Rose Marie Garoutte (Jerry Trew) (Silverdale, Washington) and Kathleen McGinley (Santa Cruz, California); three daughters, Deborah (Frank) Kenwood (Pacific Grove, California), Loretta (Ray) Hall (Seabeck, Washington) and Marie (Dale) Coleman (Scotts Mills, Oregon); seven grandchildren, Darryl Kenwood, Kelly (Dan) Zandell, Erin (David) Kirby, Zackary (Valery) Hall, Eric Coleman, Rachel (Sheldon) Lesire, and Jude Coleman; eleven great-grandchildren, Cole, Lane, Will and Kate Zandell; Jorden, Tayler, Trevor and Landon Kirby; and Gwyneth and Karis Coleman and Liam Lesire; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends, including her gadabout friend, Barbara Henrick, and her lifelong friend, Rose Mello. A family gathering will be held in celebration of Pat’s life. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that offerings be made to Heartland Hospice (824 Bay Ave. #40, Capitola, CA 95010), your church, or donations to a charity of your choice.