Patricia Elieen Lucas, 75, passed away peacefully at her lakehouse in Rochester, Indiana with family on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
She was born on August 30, 1948 at Saint Joseph Hospital in Kokomo, Indiana to Jack and Frances (Swihart) Link.
Known to her friends and family as Tish, she graduated from Kokomo High School in 1966. After marrying her high school sweetheart, Gregg, in June of 1970, she completed her Bachelors of Science in Education from Indiana University Bloomington the same year.
While teaching at Boulevard Elementary, Tish earned her Masters of Science in Education in 1975 from Indiana University Bloomington, again.
After teaching for ten years, Tish and Gregg focused on building a family back in Kokomo. They welcomed their first son Kurt in 1976, a daughter, Jennifer, in 1978, and the family was completed with her baby boy, Kent in 1981. She transitioned to a stay at home mom until her youngest reached kindergarten.
Tish’s passion of teaching literacy skills to struggling readers didn’t subside. She returned to the classroom, and continued to teach for Kokomo Schools. She joined a revolutionary group of educators focusing on Reading Recovery for the Title One Program at Kokomo Schools. Joining CaraJean Rayl, Carol Lutz, and Nancy Hostetler, they traveled the midwest learning new methods to teach reading and writing. They implemented new approaches to literacy education at Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Sycamore Elementary Schools.
Away from school, Tish loved spending time with family and friends, but she also loved time to herself. Tish would do as she pleased; she was her own woman - one of a kind, one in a million. Over the years her interests included bowling, golfing, playing cards, spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but her favorite thing in the world was spending time with her daughter, mother, and her best friend, her sister Jackie. They loved shopping, talking, laughing, sunbathing, and most importantly loving each other.
In July of 2003, Tish suffered a debilitating stroke, coma, and extensive neurologic damage. She continued to survive, smiling but struggling as she consequently was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis the same year. Due to her diagnosis, Tish retired from teaching. While focusing on her health, she joined Gregg in purchasing a historic Kokomo staple, Moore’s Pie Shop, in 2006.
In 2017, the lifelong Kokomo residents purchased their retirement home on Lake Manitou in Rochester, Indiana. Once on the lake, Tish continued to love reading, and fell in love with boat rides around the lake with Gregg and her family. You would not see Tish on the pontoon without a can of Sprite and her customary bag of Ruffles chips. After battling Multiple Sclerosis for twenty-one years, her body subsided at her home while surrounded by family. In her final weeks, Tish reminisced about her life, as her daughter, Jennifer, by her side, selflessly cared for her.
Tish is survived by her husband, Gregg; son, Kurt; daughter, Jennifer (Brandon) Williams; son, Kent (Sarah)Lucas; grandchildren, Mackenzie (Kolbie) Cox, Kaylie (Tristin) Miller, Brody Williams, Olivia Lucas; and great-grandchildren, Raegan and Rilynn Cox.
A gathering to celebrate the life of Tish will be held at the Gregg and Tish’s Lakehouse in Rochester, IN on Sunday, June 30, 2024 from 2 to 4 pm. Family and friends are welcome to come share memories and refreshments with the family.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Kokomo Center Schools Education Foundation in honor of Tish to continue her legacy and passion for teaching literacy to struggling readers. “There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.” —Jacqueline Kennedy.
Arrangements by Zimmerman Bros. Funeral Home, Rochester, Indiana.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.zimmermanbrosfh.com
