Patricia A. Gehring, 38

Patricia A. Gehring died unexpectedly Dec. 2 in her home in Juneau, Alaska. She was 38.

She grew up on Bainbridge Island and also attended school in the Seattle area before moving to Juneau, where she lived for 14 years. She worked as a certified medical assistant from 1993 to 1999 in Seattle and Juneau, and was a mother and homemaker from 1999 until she died.

She met her husband while working as a certified medical assistant. They moved into a small cabin in 1996 and renovated the house, building a home for their four girls.

She was a loving mother, daughter, wife, sister and friend, her family said. Through her kindness and adventuresome spirit she created a community family with her husband and children in Juneau.

She is survived by husband Loren Gehring, of Juneau; daughters Lacie, Rayna, Bridget and Cora Gehring; parents Robert and Roseanne Stafford, of Seattle; siblings Molly Sullivan of Seattle, Mike Stafford of Seattle, Peggy Stafford of Brooklyn, N.Y., John Stafford of Seattle and Katie O’Mahony of Seattle; and her community family in Juneau.

Services were held Dec. 5 at Chapel by the Lake in Juneau. A celebration of life gathering will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 29 at Pegasus Coffeehouse, 131 Parfitt Way.

Memorial gifts may be sent to “Gehring Family,” P.O. Box 211044 Auke Bay, AK 99821.