PATRICIA ANN AVERY

Funeral services will be 12:00 PM Saturday, January 15, 2022, in the chapel of Laufersweiler Funeral Home. Burial will follow in North Lawn Cemetery. A visitation will begin 1 hour prior to the start of the services at the funeral home. Family requests that masks be worn if attending the services. The funeral service will be livestreamed via the Laufersweiler Funeral Home Facebook page.

Patricia, affectionately known as “Pat,” was born September 4, 1952, to Albert Cosey and Virgie Miller in Lake Village, AR. She graduated in 1969 from Central High in Lake Village, AR, as class Vice President and subsequently married. She moved to Fort Dodge, IA, as a single mother of two in 1975 to join her mother and family after starting college in the University of Arkansas educational systems. Pat continued her education by attending Iowa Central Community College. During that time joined Calvary Memorial Church of God in Christ (COGIC) in Fort Dodge and became involved in various outreach ministries. While at Calvary Memorial COGIC, she honed in on her call to action in working with children and families. Pat received her Bachelor Degree of Science from Iowa State University in 1980 with honors and distinctions majoring in psychology. Upon receiving her teaching license for secondary education Pat began teaching at Fort Dodge Senior High in the early 80’s forming the original “Dynamic Duo” with Shirley Lockman (Brown) working in the areas of school truancy, alternative education strategies, in-school suspension, and “Saturday School.”

Pat continued to deepen her relationship with Christ to better understand the responsibilities God had placed upon her life, and she stepped into this new realm by serving as the Human Rights Commissioner for the City of Fort Dodge, IA, until1986. Utilizing her new life experience and spiritual growth, Pat continued forward to make an indelible mark on the human service landscape in the State of Iowa. She developed educational programming for low income housing complexes, started local food banks and the Toys-for-Tots program, and established the local domestic violence shelter all while managing to receive her Master’s Degree in Science in Education from Drake University in 1994.

She continued her community involvement and leadership roles as co-founder and executive director of an early childhood enrichment and community outreach center in 1994, served on the Iowa Lieutenant Governor task force on diversity and inclusion from 1995-99, YWCA President of the Board of Directors 97-99, and in conjunction with Mother Barbara Johnson, established a free health care clinic that later became the Community Health Center of Fort Dodge. She also won the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award in 1996.

For the past 20 plus years, Pat has worked diligently for Hennepin County in Minneapolis, MN, serving in a myriad of roles until her final position as Senior Department Administrator in the Department of Health and Human Services. She strove to impact people and families until the time of her death. Patricia had a deeply expressed love and respect for her work family at Hennepin County, her spiritual family at Full Proof Ministry COGIC, and her God given family.

Patricia is preceded in death by her mother Virgie Miller, brother Rickey Taylor, and sister Diana Redman.

She leaves to mourn her death her father Albert Cosey of Rancho Cordova, CA; son Michael Avery (Stephanie) of WDM, IA; daughter Michelle Avery-Jenkins (Oraefo) of Atlanta, GA; brother Bishop Madai Taylor (Michelle) of Fort Dodge, IA; brother Jerry Taylor (Paquita) of Jackson, MS; brother Myron Taylor of Pocahontas, IA; sister Sarah Taylor-Smith (Ray) of Indianapolis, IN; brother Andrew Taylor (Kris) of Fort Dodge, IA; sister Valerie Cosey of Sacramento, CA; sister Cassandra Anderson of San Jose, California; sister Felecia Luckett of Albuquerque, NM; grandchildren Ashley Avery-Peterson, Addison Avery, Raykeem Jenkins, Rayanna Jenkins, Orasia Jenkins, Michael Jenkins, Peter Jenkins, and Oraefo Jenkins Jr; great-grandchildren Chase Michael Avery and Alayah Rose Jenkins; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be left to family discretion.