Patricia J. Ireland

Patricia Jacqueline Ireland (née Bevard), also known as Patti or P*Tricia, died in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on January 21, 2025, at the age of 75. She is survived by her daughter, Kitty Ireland; sister, Dawnelle Garvey; brother-in-law, Gerald Garvey; nephew and niece, Shay and Kasey Garvey; brother, Philip Meredith; sister-in-law, Anna Meredith; and longtime friend, Jack Christiansen, as well as many others in her chosen family who knew and loved her. She is preceded in death by her mother, Patricia Jacqueline Bevard (1926-1983), and her father, Frank Arthur Bevard (1925-2014).

P*Tricia was born in Coeur d’Alene on August 1, 1949, and grew up with her parents, sister, and brother near the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene. From a young age, she loved animals and nature. She was a sensitive, joyful little girl who attracted wild birds and butterflies. 

P*Tricia was among the original hippies of North Idaho in the late 1960s and embraced the flower child ethos. She married Ernest Kirk Ireland (1946-2005) in 1971 and soon after welcomed their daughter, Kitty Green Ireland. After the couple divorced, P*Tricia worked at The Garden of Health in Coeur d’Alene for several years while she raised Kitty with the help of her parents.

She enrolled at North Idaho College in 1978 to pursue her love of art. She was a prolific painter, and in the 1980s and 90s, she sold her art through local galleries, cafes, and art fairs.

In the late 1990s, she was diagnosed with Leukemia and made a nearly miraculous recovery thanks to a stem-cell transplant. She proved over and over that she was a resilient survivor.

P*Tricia’s mental health issues often disrupted her life, but they also gave her a unique perspective. She saw fairies and spoke to spirits. Her mind was full of colorful alternate realities. It was difficult for her to function in the world, and she managed to get by with extra help from a series of caregivers and staff at assisted living facilities. For the last seven years of her life, she was at Lakeside Assisted Living in Sandpoint. She enjoyed making art and reading in her room, spending time in the garden, and singing and dancing for exercise. 

P*Tricia made an impact on everyone who met her. The world was a little weirder and more wonderful with her in it. She will be missed and remembered.

Kitty will plan a celebration of life and art exhibit in Coeur d'Alene in the summer of 2025.