Patricia "Trish" Barton St. C

TRISH ST. CLAIR IDAHO FALLS, ID -- Patricia Louise “Trish” Barton St. Clair died at her home on September 12th after a long, courageous battle with cancer. Trish was born December 1, 1947, in Boise, Idaho, to Sherwin M. (Sam) and the late Bernadette Maguire Barton. She grew up in Boise and graduated from Borah High School in 1966. In 1970, Trish earned a Bachelor of Science degree in bacteriology from the University of Idaho. During her undergraduate years in Moscow she met Richard T. (Dick) St. Clair. They were married on August 8, 1970, in Boise, and returned to the University of Idaho. In 1972, Trish earned a M.S. in bacteriology, while Dick finished his law degree. They lived in Alexandria, Virginia, for four years, during Dick’s service in the JAG Corps. There Trish worked for the American Red Cross National Headquarters doing red cell research. In 1976, they returned to Idaho Falls , where they started their family, and Dick joined his father’s law firm. In 1977, she was certified as a Medical Technologist and worked in the laboratories at Riverview and Parkview Hospitals for five years. In 1988, she earned a second Master’s degree in waste management at Idaho State University and began to work for the Department of Energy as a microbiologist and program manager, retiring in 2003. From childhood Trish was fascinated with horses. As a small girl she began to read and learn about them. She acquired her first horse while in junior high and immediately began to spend all free time with the horse in riding clubs and competitions. She was among the first members in the Eh-Capa Riding Club in Boise. In the late 1980’s, horses again became a focus of her interest. She developed an interest in English hunter jumper riding and dressage and introduced her daughter and sons to riding. Of course she encouraged all of her nieces and nephews to become riders as well! Eventually Trish convinced Dick to buy a farm and move to the country, where they built a home next to her horses. Trish had many joys and passions in her life. First was her family. She and Dick had three children: Thomas, Mary Beth, and James. She took pride in their achievements from music and dance lessons to skiing, climbing, hockey, and school athletics. She was active in supporting their years at Holy Rosary Catholic School, where Trish served two years as president of the school board and engineered many fund raising events. Trish also enjoyed traveling. She and Dick traveled to Greece, Turkey, Italy, Mexico, Japan, and Canada. They vacationed with family and friends at Mack’s Inn, Lake Coeur d’ Alene, Sun Valley and McCall. In addition to horses, she enjoyed gardening, cooking, home decorating, bridge, hiking, and crossword puzzles. At the University of Idaho, she belonged to Alpha Phi Sorority, Beta Zeta chapter, and was elected to both Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi scholastic honoraries. In Idaho Falls she was a member of Chapter AA, P.E.O., A.A.U.W., Combined English Riding Assn., and Horse Rescue. Trish is survived by her husband, Dick, her children, Thomas in Fairbanks, Alaska, Mary Beth in Boise, Idaho, and James St. Clair in Missoula, Montana. Her father, Sam, and stepmother, Marien, are in Boise . Her siblings include Ellen B. Batt (Fred), Caldwell, Sam (Jayla) in Stillwell, Kansas, Mary Barton, Seattle, Washington, step-brothers Fred Johnson, Salinas, California, and James Johnson, Seattle, Washington, and stepsisters Jane Johnson Penning (Fred), Corvallis, Oregon, and Susan Johnson Hammond, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Her nieces and nephews include Laura and Ann Batt, Samuel and Katherine Barton, Rebecca and James Bauermeister, Jennifer and Pam Johnson, Ben, Nicole, and Josh Penning, Marc and D.J. Hammond, and Traci Hammond Darling, Ann Margaret and Rob St. Clair, and Stephen and John Taylor. She was preceded in death by her mother, Bernadette M. Barton. Funeral Services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 17, 2005, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 1690 East 17th Street, with Fr. Reginald Nwauzor presiding. In lieu of flowers, Trish would welcome donations to the Animal Humane Society or a local charity of your choosing. Funeral arrangements are provided by Wood Funeral Home. Private inurnment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery. _________________________________________ Condolences sent: Bill Toth (billtoth@cableone.net) The Toth Family sends it deepest condolences to you in the loss of Trish. Having worked with her while she was at DOE, I grew to know and respect her immensely. She was a lovely, intelligent, considerate lady. My daughters and I also appreciate the time that she gave with Dick to the YMCA Indian Princesses/Guides program. That was our first opportunity to meet the lovely St. Clair Family. Please accept our deepest sympathies in your time of loss. Bill Toth and Daughters Dan & Margot Bevilacqua (ammotole@juno.com) Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you. Dan & Margot Bevilacqua Don Robertson ( froghair@cableone.net) My condolences to you all for your loss. I have had much contact with members of your family, immediate and extended, while growing up in the Idaho Falls area and attending the University of Idaho, and know well your integrity and contributions to both individuals and the community. My best wishes to your family. June (Altizer) McConnell (jmcconn@velocitus.net) I am so very shocked and sad to learn that Trish has passed. I send my love to her family. I knew Trish as a teenager when we attended Borah High School. More important than school was our mutual love of horses. We belonged to the Eh-Capa Bareback Horse Drill Team. Sam Barton belonged to this Club too-but we mostly tried to ignore him as he was younger and a pest(or so we thought at the time). Trish and our friend Shauna Nichols and I spent countless hours talking about, and riding our horses. I can still picture Trish with her bridle slung over her shoulder, going to ride her horse which was stabled at the pasture on Curtis Road. We were very different - she was poised and confident. I was painfully shy with a poor self image. She rode English-I rode Western. One of our great victories was a time when I loaned her my small (off the Indian reservation) quarter horse/ mustang mare which was a great jumper. Trish tacked her up in English gear and won the jumping class that she entered at the prestigious Boise Hunt and Jump Club show at Esther Simplot's Highland Stable arena in Boise. Trish also "saved" me one time when another horse that I was practicing barrel racing on -fell on me - giving me a fairly serious concussion. Trish found me riding my horse in the traffic on Fairview Avenue-semi conscious -not knowing where I lived or who I was. She got me out of danger and home to my parents for medical care. After high school we went our separate ways - and as it turns out-it seems that we both had happy successful lives. I have been married 36 years; I have a wonderful husband, and one married son. I too live in the country with a menagerie of animals including 11 horses. I ride very often. Today, I got out my old high school yearbook and read what Trish wrote to me in it. She told me to always remember that I was beautiful and smart and to believe in myself. She also wished me "good luck with the boys!" I am so sorry that I did not know her for a longer period of time. I am reminded as I write this of how important it is to show love and compassion to those around us. You never know how lasting an impression that you may be making on someone by being a positive cheerful role model. Trish - I hope that somewhere you are cantering through green fields on a really good horse. I love you. June (Altizer) McConnell, Meridian, Idaho Roger Mayes (ram307@srv.net) Dick, and family My sincere condolences and deepest sympathy to you, Dick, and to your family. I know that Trish's battle was a tough one for all of you, too. Please know that you are in our prayers at this difficult time. Roger Mayes