Patricia Ann (Kleier) Lanier was born on January 28, 1941 in Memphis, Tennessee. From the moment she set foot on earth, she was adored and revered by her family and all others who came to know her along the way.
A memorial service to celebrate Patricia’s life will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, January 14, 2023 in the chapel at New Hope Christian Church in Bartlett, Tennessee. Visitation with the family will happen immediately afterward also at New Hope Christian Church.
Married 60 years to her loving husband, Patricia and David built a wonderful life together. Patricia was a creative soul, a lover of fine arts. She acted and sang and played the piano beautifully, passing the love of music and theatre down to her daughter and inspiring others. Patricia graduated from Nicholas Blackwell High School (Bartlett) in 1958 and attended University of Tennessee, then Memphis State to finish two degrees.
Patricia was born to teach. After graduating from Memphis State, she began her teaching career with such a verve and energy and love for children, only taking a small break to stay home with her son. For 30 years, she was able to contribute her talents and love for children and education mostly teaching second grade at Bartlett Elementary, then ending her career as the Bartlett Elementary Curriculum Coordinator. Education was a passion for Patricia — she truly believed in leaving no child behind. She always went above and beyond to help anyone who needed it. Believing that education was the greatest resource we have, Patricia’s life is a testament to that.
After retirement, she moved with her husband to Parker, Texas, to take on a new role — being Nana to her grandson. Patricia took this role as seriously as any other and enjoyed watching Ian grow from a toddler to an incredible young man, now in college, attending his plays and other activities until her health declined. Her life continued to touch others, even in retirement, when students and others contacted her about their accomplishments to share with Pat how she had inspired them.
Patricia passed away at home on January 8, 2023, with her children and husband around her after several months of care for dementia and lung cancer. She leaves behind her husband David Lanier, children Charlotte Annette Lanier Taylor (Matt) of Allen, Tx. Jonathan David Lanier of Woodland Hills, Ca.; and grandson Ian Arthur Taylor of Allen, Tx. She is preceded in death by her mama, Hazel Slaydon Kleier and her father, John Charles Kleier, her brother Clozell Elwood Kleier (Dee), and her brother Ernest Bobby Kleier (Bess). Patricia also leaves behind Ernest Bobby Kleier, Jr. (Janet), her nephew, and Marla Kleier Shelton (Ricky), her niece, and all of their children.