Patricia Foster Mcquay

Patricia Anne Foster McQuay died peacefully at her home on March 19, having recently celebrated her 91st birthday. Patricia was born January 13, 1933 in Cherryville, NC, as the only child of Brite Vernon and Mary Elizabeth Mason Foster.

Her family moved to Charlotte when her father returned from serving in WWII in Germany. There Patricia graduated high school and worked as bookkeeper at Lance Incorporated. She later trained as a nurse and pursued athletic interests, joining the basketball and softball teams.  Patricia loved to sing and joined church choirs wherever she went.

Introduced by her cousin at a church party, Patricia met her future husband James Newton McQuay, also of Charlotte. Both Patricia and Newton were essentially shy people who could make friends easily. The couple married in 1957 and started a family of three children almost right away.

Living in Hillsborough, Patricia’s bookkeeping abilities won out over nursing when she sought employment after their children started school. Pat worked first as a bookkeeper at a local bank, then after a move to Durham, she was employed as an accountant by the Triangle Porsche Audi dealership there. She continued her career as a comptroller at RTP Federal Credit Union, retiring in 1991. Patricia continued to serve on the credit union board after her retirement.

Throughout most of their marriage, Patricia and Newton were rarely apart. They pursued such adventures as parasailing in Hawaii, following a laser-focused devotion to Duke basketball at home and away, visiting family in Australia and Ireland, and tirelessly propagating ornamental plants at their home in Durham. The couple delighted in their garden and those of others. They were charter members of Triangle Presbyterian Church and served it devoutly.

Patricia was predeceased by her beloved, Newton in 2017. In the seven years since his death, dementia robbed Patricia and her family of her joyous identity. However, her essential nature, her sweet loving openness to others remained intact and made her a favorite in the memory care unit where she lived.

She is survived by her three children, Vickie McQuay Reddick (Stephen) of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Martha Elizabeth Walsh (John) of Bahama; David Newton McQuay of Chapel Hill; grandchildren, Ryan (Margaret) Reddick, Anna (Garrett) Shea, Kathryn (Brandon) Herb, Matthew (Leah) Walsh, and Jack (Katherine) Walsh; and seven great-grandchildren. The family expresses profound appreciation to her loving caregivers at Carolina Reserve and Duke Hospice. Her ashes will be interred at Triangle Grace Church, 5001 Tudor Place, Durham, on Saturday, March 23 at 2:00 PM. The memorial service will be followed by a receiving of friends. Memorial contributions can be made to a charity of your choice.