Patricia Kikola Shealy

Patricia Kikola Shealy, age 80, passed away on Thursday, November 11th, 2021. Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1941, Pat attended Denby High School and Saint Julianna Grade School. She could often be found after school saying the Rosary or writing sentences on the blackboard in atonement for her mischievous nature. In the early 1960s, she took to the skies as a flight attendant for National Airlines during the golden age of flying. It was in Jacksonville, Florida, where she shared an apartment with several National girlfriends, that she met Victor Shealy, her husband of 58 years. Together they moved for Vic’s job with Shell Oil company from Savannah, GA, to Chattanooga, TN; Columbia, SC; Cleveland, OH; Oakland, CA; Houston, TX; Charlotte, NC; and finally to Asheville, NC, for the past 47 years.

Pat loved the Gamecocks and a good tailgate. She loved gardening and playing golf and bridge. She hoarded wallpaper and carpet sample books. She managed a truck stop she and her husband built. She required high school employees to keep above a “C” average to keep their jobs and counseled them whenever needed. She could do complex math in her head. She was always ten minutes late. She stayed overnight at her church and helped serve the homeless. She served on the Children’s Welfare League. She was a Guardian Ad Litem and advocated for children who couldn’t advocate for themselves. She hiked the Milford Track in New Zealand with her daughter, Joan. She doted on her children’s friends and fed them, housed them, loved them, and scolded them as if they were her own. She tended to her friends when they were ill. She was generous, thoughtful, and happiest when she could help other people. She loved her Vic.

The daughter of deceased Stanley and Mary Kikola, Pat was the middle child of three girls. She is survived by her two sisters, Marie Beahn and Janice Meehan, her sister-in-law Marie Collie and brother-in-law Robert Collie, her husband Vic, and their three children, Scott and his wife Sally, Joan and her husband Nathan, Stephen and his wife Ali. Pat was predeceased by her second child, daughter Julie.

Pat’s greatest love was her seven grandsons, Samuel Shealy, Nicholas Shealy, Jackson Best, Wilder Best, River Shealy, Arlo Shealy, and Boomer Shealy. Nothing made her happier than family dinners or time at the beach or lake with her children, grandchildren, and their friends.

A private service was held at Central United Methodist Church, officiated by the Reverend Rob Blackburn. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Central United Methodist Church, 27 Church St., Asheville, NC 28801 or Silverbell Homestead, 765 Cane Creek Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732, where Pat spent the later months of her life surrounded by a wonderful team of caregivers who supported her with dignity and love.

Groce Funeral Home’s Lake Julian staff is assisting the family and a guest register is available online at grocefuneralhome.com.