Patricia Anne McAlister, an accomplished piano performer and teacher, passed away peacefully on September 12th, 2018 at the age of 79. Patricia was a beloved mother and grandmother who devoted her life to the love of music, family, and friends.
Patricia was born in Portland, OR on March 1, 1939. With her parents, Florence and Edward Whelan, she lived in Salem, OR where she graduated from South Salem High School (1956) and then Willamette University (1960) with a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance. She married Richard J. Gabriel in August of 1960. In June of 1972, Patricia married Wallis G. "Buck" Nash and moved to Creswell, OR where she continued to teach piano and raise her family. Buck passed away in 1978 and Patricia married John D. McAlister in August of 1979. In 1984 they moved to Yakima, WA.
John passed away in 1997, and in 2001, Patricia moved to Lake Oswego, OR. In 2002, Patricia suffered a serious brain injury, which necessitated a move to Seattle, WA to be closer to her two children. Since 2002, Patricia resided at Bothell Heath Care, impressing upon her care providers her perennial charm and wit.
Patricia was a dedicated teacher, gifted musician, and lover of flowers. Over the span of 40 years, Patricia taught countless students to play the piano, to love music, and to express themselves through the possibilities that music holds. She loved sharing her musical talents throughout the community in schools, churches, and with symphonies and theaters alike. Her musical partnership with dear friend Frances (Baum) Geer, was among the most treasured relationships of her life. Their two-piano/four-hand duet repertoire was performed often in the Eugene area, delighting audiences with their heartfelt, dynamic performances, and unmistakable musical intuition. Patricia will be deeply missed by all who knew her and leaves a significant legacy among friends and family of music, laughter, and love.
Patricia is survived by her children, Erin Gabriel Stearns of Seattle and Roderic Nash of Tacoma, along with their spouses, Rich Stearns and Mindy Nash, and grandchildren, Simone Gabriel-Scherief, Lucy Stearns, Jacob Stearns, John Nash, Sadie Nash, and Lainie Nash.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be mailed to Willamette University Department of Music, Office of Advancement, 900 State Street, Salem OR 97301 or online at www.willamette.edu/go/give. Please choose "other" and write in Music Department.

Words of comfort may be expressed for Patricia's family by clicking on the tribute tab above.