Family and friends are remembering Pat Cobb, and sharing this remembrance with her community:
Patricia “Pat” (O’Connell) Cobb
August 30, 1942 – August 26, 2026Patricia “Pat” (O’Connell) Cobb, a longtime resident of Snohomish, passed away peacefully on August 26, 2026, at her home in West Seattle, just four days before her 84th birthday.
Pat was born on August 30, 1942, in Ely, Nevada. At the time, her father was an accountant at a tungsten mine in far eastern Nevada near the Utah border. At the end of World War II, the family moved to Eureka, Nevada, where Pat attended elementary school. She attended St. Mary of the Wasatch in Salt Lake City as a freshman and Bishop Manogue High School in Reno as a sophomore. In 1958, the family moved to Carson City, where Pat completed high school.
In 1960, following graduation, Pat moved to Seattle to attend Seattle University. After two years, she transferred to the University of Washington to pursue a degree in dental hygiene. Upon becoming a dental hygienist in 1964, she began working at a dental practice in West Seattle.
During this time, she met her future husband, Dave Cobb, who was pursuing a career in sales with Procter & Gamble. His territory extended from North Seattle to the Canadian border. The couple married shortly thereafter and moved to Snohomish, where they would raise their three children.
In Snohomish, Pat worked for many years as a dental hygienist for Dr. Jacobsen, DDS, and later for Dr. Ness, DDS. The Cobb family was very active in St. Michael’s Parish, where they formed many lifelong friendshipso.
Sadly, Pat’s husband, Dave, passed away from pancreatic cancer in 1988. Pat continued raising their family and working in Snohomish until 2001, when she moved to West Seattle. There, in a home overlooking Puget Sound, she spent her retirement years.
Pat enjoyed many creative activities throughout her retirement, including spending time with friends in her book club, golfing, painting, and designing and creating beautiful stained-glass art, a craft at which she became remarkably accomplished.
Throughout her life, Pat was surrounded by her beloved animals, including horses, dogs, and just about every farm animal imaginable. In 1954, as an active 4-H member, she was awarded Grand Champion lamb at the county fair in Ely, Nevada.
Through life’s joys and challenges, Pat remained a devoted mother, a loyal friend, and a steady source of love and strength for her family.
Above all, Pat will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, and unwavering acceptance of others. She had a remarkable ability to see the good in people and rarely had an unkind word to say about anyone. Her warmth, integrity, and gentle spirit left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know her.
Pat is survived by her three children, Katie Sun of West Seattle, and Kristie Cobb and Buck Cobb, both of Merritt, Washington; her two grandsons, Jack Sun and Reid Ellingsen; and her brother, Mike O’Connell of Taos, New Mexico.
In keeping with Pat’s wishes, there will be no funeral Mass or formal service. She simply didn’t want anyone to “make a fuss.” A celebration of her life will be held in the coming months, with details to be shared with family and friends.
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