Jeff Pates

Jeff Pates was one of the kindest, most gentle, and most encouraging souls. He never met a stranger and loved nothing more than connecting with people of all kinds. He was the person you would call if you had a bad day and wanted to grab a beer. He loved a good cup of coffee and relished any opportunity to provide one for others. He made friends everywhere he went, whether that was through music, church, Body Pump, work, his jeep, floating on the river, or anywhere else he happened to find himself. He loved putting together a solid outfit and found particular joy in floral or bird shirts and cool sneakers. He was in several bands and loved bringing people together to hear and enjoy music.

Most of all, Jeff was a devoted husband and best friend to Abbye. They had a beautiful relationship filled with laughter, dogged commitment to each other, and service to others. They created a life together centered around community: in their almost 16 years of marriage, they lived in the same house and offered their home freely to others and had many different people live with them. Jeff had such a gift for including other people in his life. He seemed to have a special and particular bond with each of his friends, and he was so good at making each person feel fully able to be themselves around him. Only someone so unique could make others feel so uniquely loved.

Our dear Jeff passed away unexpectedly on August 1st, 2023. All donations will go directly to Abbye to support her in the days to come. As she celebrates and grieves Jeff's life, help us ensure that finances are not an additional burden.

Anyone who knew Jeff knows that he was the first person to want to give to others. Please help support his family and remember his legacy during this time.