Patti L. Mccord

Patti (Patricia Lee) McCord, 61 of Fairbury passed away October 31, 2020 in Fairbury, NE. She  was born January 19th, 1959 to Virginia J. (Glenn) & Pete McCord. Her older brother Mike McCord was also born January 19, 1956. Three years earlier, Mike and Patti used to laugh & say they were twins. Mike would say only Patti was a little slow coming to mom & Dad from heaven! Patti always said “ya Doc Cassel finally opened the cow barn door and here I am”. Being a real cowgirl at heart Patti’s love was her horses & driving, working, & raising cattle on her parents farm south of Fairbury, NE. Patti also loved Australian Cattle Dogs.

When Patti was only 4 or 5 years old her parents milked cows & Patti & Mike, typical kids would play, hopping on 2 of the milk cows ol Greenie & Bess & ride them around the lot waiting for her parents to get the cows milked so Patti & Mike could feed the bucket calves. One morning Pete & Virginia could not find her, so they asked Mike “where’s your sister?” Mike said “I don’t know.” Pete went & found Patti in the basement of the barn with a quarter horse mare named Chick who was to have a colt at any time. Sure enough there was Patti with a newborn little colt who Patti & her mom named Pokey, sound asleep. When Pokey was old enough to break to ride, Pokey became Virginia’s horse & Patti was always allowed to ride Pokey when her mother wasn’t riding her. Patti & Pokey competed in lots of 4-H Horseshows & even qualified to go to the Nebraska state fair in 1973. Well Pokey & Patti were apart overnight in Lincoln when Mike stayed with Pokey & his horse Buck. Mike always laughed & said Pokey raised such a fuss because Patti wasn’t right there with her in a strange barn & stall & the next day when Patti & her mom showed up Patti threw her arms around Pokey & gave Pokey a big hug & Pokey was fine after that.

Jan. 1990 Patti was 1 of the first women to ride the Pony Express reride in Jefferson County Nebraska. Patti always joked with Rock Creek Parks superintendent Wayne Brandt. “Wayne if they ever let women do the reride you’ll let me ride horseback won’t you?”. Well in 1990 Wayne Brandt called Pattis bluff & said “hey they’re letting women do the Pony Express Reride - you’ll ride won’t you!” Patti said “yes!” Patti’s mother, Virginia, also rode the Pony Express reride starting in 1990.  Patti used to laugh & say “mom if they let women ride the reride you’ll ride with me won’t you?” So thats how Patti & her mom started doing the annual Pony Express reride every year. Then in June of 1996 the Pony Express rerides carried the Olympic Torch on horseback. It was a one time opportunity & yes Patti & Virginia were very pleased to do the reride. In fact, there’s a picture in a book Patti had of her carrying the Olympic Torch on horseback. Yup Patti always wore her 6 shooter in case she came upon any Indians or outlaws during her Pony Express reride.

When her father Pete McCord had Alzheimer’s & was in the Grand Island veterans’ home, Pete was always breaking or driving horses & working cattle. When Patti & her mother would go to visit Pete they would always go as (Patti & her mother called it) go into Pete’s world & talk about being out in the pasture horseback driving cattle. Patti would always say “Dad you think we need to get rid of & sell that ol’ cow. She’s kinda beechy!” Pete would say “yup lets cut her out of the herd & take her to the salebarn!”

She will be lovingly remembered by her brother Jack Robinson (Barb); her nephews and nieces: Randy Robinson (Heather), Danny Robinson (Danita), RJ Robinson (Julie), Tammi Jameson (Richard), Staci Wolken (Larry), Kelli Anderson (Justin), Dale Rhoades, Kassidy Rhoades; her great nephews and nieces: Nicholas Robinson, Zachary Robinson, Makensie Robinson, Jessica Musso (Joe), Kyler Robinson, Mikhail Robinson, Samuel Robinson, Corey Jameson (April), Courtney Lee (Tyler), Caden Jameson, Cailyn Jameson, Cylee Jameson, Colton Wolken, Coy Wolken, RyLee Wolken, Austin Anderson, Jaiden Anderson, Jordyn Anderson, Jarrett Anderson, Quentin Rhoades, Evan Rhoades, Teagen Bush; great great nephews: Carson Robinson and Oliver Jameson; and her extended family.

Preceding Her parents Thomas Pete & Virginia J. McCord, Brother Mike (Michael D.) McCord & Coby Wolken.

Services will be Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 11:00 am at the Presbyterian Church in Fairbury. Burial in McCord Boot Hill Cemetery. Memorials to Family’s Choice.   Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.