Patricia "Pat" Mayer

Patricia “Pat” Mayer of Richmond passed away on July 5, 2023.  She was a graduate of Richmond High School and Earlham College and a member of Seton Catholic Church. She was born January 31, 1926 to Herbert and Henrietta Mayer and lived in Richmond all of her life.

After college graduation, she spent 18 months as a volunteer with the American Friends Service Committee in the Middle East (Egypt).  Pat was an outdoors person and loved nature, camping, and hiking. The local Girl Scouts employed her for 50 years. “Beetle” was Director of Camp Wapi-Kamigi in Hagerstown, where she spent every summer. She was a Red Cross certified swim instructor at the local YWCA for many years.  Her interest and enjoyment in hiking took her to all 50 states for Volksmarches and two longer treks on the Appalachian Trail, which runs from Maine to Georgia. She was a member of the American Camping Association and a certified camp visitor. She had visited the majority of ACA camps in Indiana.  Pat was on the Board of Directors of Stanley W. Hayes Research Foundation, Inc. beginning in September 1974 on a continuous basis. She served as a Board Officer as Assistant Secretary until her death.

She was preceded in death by her sisters, Frances, Martha and Clare; brother, Herbert; and life-long friend, Norma Crabtree.  She has 20 nieces and nephews, and a special cousin, Johnny Seider of Texas.

She loved her family and will be buried next to her parents and sister, Frances. There will be a graveside service at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Richmond on August 12 at 11AM followed by a luncheon at the Hayes Arboretum Nature Center for her family and friends from 12-3.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hayes Arboretum, 801 Elks Rd., Richmond, IN 47374. Send condolences to 408 Kinsey Street, Richmond, IN 47374.