Patricia Ann Hand (Neil), a longtime Douglas educator, died August 25, 2009 at her home in Douglas after a long illness.

Pat was born to the late Donald Howard Neil and Marjorie Ridgely Neil in Cleveland, OH on June 17, 1937.  The Neil family, including Pat’s younger sister Kaye and younger brother Don, moved from Ohio to Tucson, AZ in 1947.  Pat graduated from Tucson High School in 1955, and from the University of Arizona (U of A) in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education.  As an undergraduate, Pat was an active member of the U of A’s chapter of the Alpha Phi sorority.  After starting her teaching career, Pat completed a Master of Arts degree in Reading Education at the U of A in 1971 while raising four children and teaching elementary school full-time.

Pat married Paul Hand on June 10, 1960, in Scottsdale, AZ.

Pat is survived by her husband of 49 years, Paul Hand of Douglas; daughter Kim (Glenn) Ray and their children Kyle and Tyler of San Diego, CA; son Mike (Holly) Hand and their children Kelsey and Taylor of Las Vegas, NV; son David (Janet) Hand and their children Stephanie, Curtis, Nicole, and Dawson of Tucson, AZ; brother Don (Joni) Neil of Tucson and their children Chris, Patrick, and Amanda; brother-in-law Mike Hand of Spokane, WA; and sister-in-law Nancy Hand of Spokane, WA. 

Pat was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Kaye Neil Noble, and her son Jim.

Pat enjoyed a long career as a teacher in Arizona, which included experience in Scottsdale (Kiva Elementary School between 1965 and 1969), Tucson (Vail Elementary School between 1969 and 1971), and the longest – 27 years – from 1972 to 1999 in Douglas (12th Street Junior High (now Ray Borane Middle School), A Avenue Elementary School, and Joe Carlson Elementary School).  Pat loved teaching children, particularly teaching reading, which she knew would excite them about learning and provide the key to their future success.

A private memorial service will be held in Douglas.

A  website has been created by Pat’s children at http://www.ilasting.com/patriciahand.php to help her family, friends, and especially her former students to celebrate her life by sharing their memories, pictures, and stories.  Over a teaching career that spanned more than 30 years, Pat probably had more than 1,000 students, and the Hand family would love to hear from them all!

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to COPD International  http://www.copd-international.com/ to help people suffering with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).