Helen Patricia “Pat” Thornton Born was born in Pensacola, FL on February 28, 1938 to Brooks and Carolyn Elizabeth Crosby Thornton. Pat died Sunday, December 5, 2021.

Pat graduated from Pensacola High School in 1955 and then Florida State University in 1958 with an Honors degree in Art, where was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta. In 1957, Pat married Thomas Born, her sweetheart since Junior High. They remained married until his death in 2016.

Pat worked in commercial art as a founding partner in Dodson, Craddock and Born Advertising for fifteen years. In 1961, she proudly won the Advertising Man of the Year award for her work on the Pensacola Beach Sailfish sign. Pat then owned an interior design firm specializing in commercial spaces. She never considered herself retired and continued creating in a variety of mediums.

Nature, animals and children all had a special meaning for her and were the subjects of her work.  Pat won awards in regional and national shows, first for her sculptured porcelains of animals and children, and later for her fired enamel paintings. She was an active member of Quayside Gallery for many years.

Pat was an avid art and antique collector and always had an eye for discovering treasures, and then loved regifting them to her friends and family. When she wasn’t creating or collecting, Pat loved gardening, reading, cooking and sewing. Her hands were never idle.

She is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Jessie Lew Mahoney; husband, Thomas Born; and her son, John Bleecker Born.

Pat is survived by her daughters, Christine Born Kahane  (Stephen) and Rachel Born Schill.  She impatiently waited for her ten grandchildren to be born, Joshua Frederick Kahane (Kenzie), Rebecca Kahane Orman (Patrick), Zachary Emmanuel Kahane (June), Jacob Daniel Kahane, Leah Michelle Kahane, Madison Crobsy Schill, Carolyn Elizabeth Schill, Ethan Gabriel Schill, Mary Pratt Born, Charlotte Hoyt Born; as well as four great grandchildren, Tyler Joseph Orman, Hannah Rose Orman, Reagan Joy Kahane Bartlett and Isaac Kahane Bartlett.

A Memorial Celebration will be held 1:00 PM, Friday, December 17, 2021, at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, followed by a reception in the parish hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida, 105 N. “S” St., Pensacola, FL 32505or St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 3200 N.12th Ave., Pensacola, FL 32503.