Patricia, Pippa and Corkie

Our friend and longtime TAM Patricia Smiley passed away last Thursday, April 20. She was surrounded by family in the comfort of her home.

Patricia was one of the first TAMs and provided wonderful advice and support when Tammy Radio went independent. A regular contributor for the blog and excellent researcher and helper for Tammy Radio, her support and friendship really helped make our work easier, smarter and more successful.

On Twitter, she was always active, sharing stories and making sure her followers were well informed and encouraged. Her pups and social media representatives, Pippa and Corkie, would always make me smile. In addition to being a great independent conservative, like most of us, she was an animal advocate, always looking out for those without a voice.

I had the pleasure of meeting her at a Sarah Palin event back in 2011, and she was as wonderful as I expected. I’m honored that Patricia chose to be a TAM and impressed that she made such a big difference in everyone’s lives.

She will be missed.

Here’s a bit of her obituary in The Daily Progress. Please click through to read the whole thing. I know many of you have recollections about Patricia. I’m looking forward to seeing your comments.

Patricia Jeneane Smiley, 66, of Palmyra, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, April 20, 2017. She was born on February 13, 1951, in Charlottesville, a daughter of the late Claude Elliott Smiley and Frances Alease (Tolley) Smiley. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Claude Elliott Smiley Jr. Patricia is survived by her life partner of 28 years, Linda R. Bolling; her precious dogs, Pippa and Corkie; her brother, Grover Smiley and wife, Paula…

All of Linda’s grandchildren knew her as Ms. Pat. Patricia loved her work and colleagues at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory as a Communications Coordinator and Graphic Designer for forty-one years. She loved her friends and family. Patricia lived her life as a positive, generous, hardworking, creative, and fun loving woman. She learned how to live in the moment and that each experience in her journey was beneficial to growth. Thanks to the Doctors and Nurses at University of Virginia Medical Centerand to the angels from Hospice that helped us through this end of life journey. A special thanks to Paula Smiley, Ellen Pace and Donna Morris for your continual support. We extend our appreciation to the congregation at Grace and Glory Lutheran Church for their prayers, cards, and calls with words of encouragement. Patricia loved all animals great and small. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Caring for Creatures or Hospice of the Piedmont, in her name. We will have a gathering for family and friends at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, at Thacker Brothers Lake Monticello Funeral Home…

Patricia’s posts at Tammy Blog

Patricia’s Twitter

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23 Comments | Leave a comment
  1. Pat_S says:

    The U.S. Of Tammy flag has been lowered to half staff. Rest in peace our dear Patricia.

  2. LucyLadley says:

    My personal Patricia Smiley story: In the early Autumn of 2008, my husband & I opened our doors to a Masters Degree Foreign Exchange Student from Iran. TAMs were a blessing to me as I navigated the political process of the USA & because of our Persian Student – the political process in Iran….Patricia, not only took the time to reassure our student from Iran over the phone but also prayed. Our student was so very worried about the violent protests in the streets of Tehran. Patricia helped us show our concern by designing the Green Backgrounds for our Twitter Avatars. That was the color used by the supporters of freedom in Iran. Many Thanks for the Fellowship that Tammy has provided all these years. All of you have been a great support to me. Prayers of Thanks for the life of Patricia Smiley. Our student is now a Naturalized Citizen of the USA she is a Professor at a University as well.

  3. Vintageport says:

    So sorry that our plan to meet on the beaches of Virginia for a shared vacation never came to be. How she loved the sand, surf and breeze. RIP sweet Virginia TAM producer…you will be missed, but not forgotten.

  4. rosebud2186 says:

    I, too, met Patricia at the 2011 Palin Rally….very kind & friendly…..my sincere condolences to her family ❤

  5. Chuck says:

    This is very sad. Thanks Tammy for this lovely and heartfelt tribute. May God comfort her family and friends.

  6. idaho_karen says:

    So sorry for Pat and her family.. She was one of the first TAMS that befriended me on Twitter; new to me at the time. Prayers for all.

  7. VelvetHammer says:

    I wanted to extend my sympathies to all the TAMS, to Tammy, and to Shifra on the loss of your friend Patricia. Based on what I’ve read here, it sounds like she was a wonderful person who will be missed.
    “Be not afraid. I go before you always. Come, follow me and I will give you rest.”

  8. TigerAim says:

    Wow, I was so sorry to hear the news of this on the Weekend Update. 🙁 I will miss knowing she is there and being such a help to the Tammy Universe. My sincerest condolences to her family.

  9. RobW says:

    I met Patricia at my first TAM meetup at the Sarah Palin rally. Patricia utilized her talents to make an awesome TAM banner for the event. She was as genuine as anyone could be; greeting me with a big hug as though we had been friends forever. A true patriot and an angel, we will miss her very much.

  10. Mickey says:

    Very sorry to hear this. Prayers for her family and for the TAMily. It seems Pat would’ve been my kind of gal -wish I could’ve met her in person. Grace and peace to her friends and loved ones during this difficult time.

  11. Alain41 says:

    Rest in God’s hands, Patricia.

  12. PopArt says:

    God Bless Patricia and her family. I wish I had gotten to meet her in person but remember her benevolent and calming presence online in the background and it was clear she was an integral part along with Gina and Shifra of helping things hum along in the background for Tammy, giving Tammy more ability to tell it like it is and have the occasional head explosion.

  13. Kitten says:

    A precious soul. We will miss you dearly, Patricia.

  14. pamelarice says:

    I wish I had been able to meet Patricia – we will always be grateful for her guidance and contributions to the TAM universe. Suspecting she was very ill in the past few years I know her presence was still felt working behind the scenes. Rest well with God and prayers for your family, Patricia.

  15. Teri says:

    So saddend to hear this news about Patricia. I met Patricia after years of communicating via internet at a tea party in DC. She was all I thought she would be ! Me and a few other TAMS got together with Patricia and shared that common bond of patriotism as we marched together in solidarity for America 🙂 Thank you Patricia for everything.

  16. TX Soldier254 says:

    Tammy Bruce, that was a terrific send off for a terrific lady, Patricia Smiley.

    And to the Smiley family, Thank You for sharing Patricia into our lives.

    God Bless

  17. midget says:

    “For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the one to come.” Hebrews 13:14
    May God grant us a reunion in that place for Pat and all Tams.

  18. Dr. H says:

    My condolences to Patricia’s family. What a blessing to have her at the beginning of Tammy’s independent career. Though I never interacted with her personally, I hope I made her smile with one of my chat room wisecracks. It’s obvious she was a loving dog person and I believe in the maxim, “All Dogs Go to Heaven.” In Patricia’s case, it’s all TAMS too.

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