Patricia (Pat) Berniece (Stone) Monks

Patricia (Pat) Berniece (Stone) Monks, 86, of Limon, Colo., passed peacefully in the early morning hours of October 9, 2023. 

Pat was born in Julesburg, Colo., on February 19, 1937, to Harold and Vera Stone at the home of her maternal grandparents, Carl and Elsie Pigeon.  As the first born, she would become the big sister to six siblings, a role she cherished. Pat attended school in Sedgewick, Colo., graduating in 1955. 

After graduation, she moved to Julesburg, Colo., and began working for the phone company.  It was during this time that she met George Monks, a heavy highway foreman working on a project in the area. On June 16, 1956, after a six-week courtship, they were married in Denver, Colo.  This union lasted 60 years. 

Pat often shared stories of the first 10 years of their marriage—51 moves to different jobs across the Southwest, three children born in three different cities, and the many friendships created along the way. In 1966, Pat and George gave up the road warrior life and settled in Limon, Colo. to raise their family.

Pat held a variety of jobs over the next three decades.  She, ironically, worked at the care facility where she passed.  She also worked in the meat department at Jack Frost Market, the First National Bank, Hi-Plains Veterinary Clinic, and the Bo-Mar/Pastry Hut.  She also made time to be a sales representative for Princess House Crystal and House of Lloyd’s, a den mother for Cub Scouts, a 4-H Leader, a Sunday school teacher, and a candidate for Lincoln County Commissioner.  

In addition to her day jobs, Pat always had animals.  She loved them all—pigs, cattle, sheep, rabbits, dogs and cats. After retiring, Pat devoted her time to her family.  Everyone knew that once she included you in the family, you were forever her family. She especially loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren—biological and chosen—and she believed each to be perfect.

Pat will be remembered for many things:  her friendly nature, her strength and fortitude, her willingness to help others, her devotion to family and friends, her love of reading, and her skills as a quilter, seamstress, crafter, and furniture restorationist.  Many stories and memories could be, and hopefully will be, shared, but one of our favorite memories is of Pat and her best friend, Noreen LaBorde, remodeling houses long before HGTV existed. They demolished, restructured, redesigned, rebuilt, repainted and repaired. They were quite a team and remained friends until the end. 

Pat is survived by her daughters Kristen Jeffrey of Limon, Colo., and Beth (Rick) Ullom of Hot Springs Village, Ark.; five siblings: Smokey (Judy) Stone of Brush, Colo., Janet Juranek of Littleton, Colo., Butch (Alice) Stone of Julesburg, Colo., Tom (Carol) Stone of El Cajon, Calif., and Linda (Stephen) Stone-Breitzke  of Deer Park, Wash.; sisters-in-law: Sue Stone of Casper, Wyo., Huldah Igou of Hugo, Colo., and Thelma Ritz of Tucson, Ariz.; significant family members Pam (Mike) Kraft of Kiowa, Colorado, Richard Yarian of Limon, Colorado and Shawn (Laura) Jeffrey of Cheyenne, Wyo., nine grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She will be missed by all. 

Pat was preceded in death by her husband, George Monks; her son, Greg Monks; her parents, Harold and Vera Stone; her brother, Jerry Stone; her granddaughter, Mickie Sue Kraft; and great granddaughter, Sadie Kraft.

A small graveside service will be held at Pershing Cemetery on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at 2 p.m.. There will be a reception at the Catholic Hall following the service.

While flowers are welcome, contributions can be made to Kristen Jeffrey, P.O. Box 83, Limon, CO 80828 in care of Pat Monks. All funds will be used for the memorial.