Patricia Best

In Loving Memory of
Patricia F. Best (Orford)
March 2, 1939 – November 7, 2024

Patricia (Pat) Best, a resident of Gore Bay, died peacefully at the Mindemoya Hospital, with family by her side, on November 7, 2024 at the age of 85 after losing her battle with cancer.

She was born and grew up in Mills Township, the 2nd oldest of 8 children born to John and Mary Orford.
At 17, she graduated Grade 13 at Gore Bay High School and ventured to Toronto Teacher’s College and afterward taught in Sudbury and Cambridge area schools until coming back to the island to teach at the one room school in Burpee.  Back at home, she met and married the love of her life, Edward Best (pre-deceased on November 23, 2000) on July 24,1965 and settled on their farm in Gordon Township.
After the oldest child, Heather, was born, then Brent and Darren, Pat retired from teaching full-time and concentrated on farm life, took up sewing and upholstery, taught sewing classes, and did substitute teaching at CC McLean PS.  For 25 years she was the head bookkeeper and office manager for Randy Noble at H&R Noble Construction.
She was an active member of the Gordon Women’s Institute and became involved in local municipal government serving several terms as councillor, two terms as Reeve of Gordon Township, and helped to create and serve on the DSSAB board.
Pat developed a great love of quilting with her artistic side and sewing talents, has created some great works of art over the years for gifts and donations.
After Edward suddenly died in 2000, and Brent came home to take over farm, she distracted herself by researching, interviewing and writing the “History of Mills Township”.  This was followed by 4 other township history books over the next 10 years.
At 65, she retired from work and soon was able to enjoy her 3 grand children, travelling with her sister Lois, and looking after the gardens at the farm.
In 2019, she moved to Millsite Apartments in Gore Bay and created some great friendships and enjoyed having tea and playing cards and games “with her girls”.

Pat was the loving wife of Edward Best for 35 years until his passing in 2000
Loved mother of Heather Hall (Dave), Brent, and Darren (HeatherLee)
Proud and loving grandmother (Grammy) of Parker Hall (Sierra), Ally Hall (Gabe), and Chiara Sutherland-Best and soon-to-be great grandmother to Parker & Sierra’s baby girl.
Dear sister to Jack Orford (Alma Jean), Don Orford (Anna), Lois Newton (Roger), Floyd Orford (Gaynor), Murray Orford (Ruth), Marian Holm (Ian), and Doug Orford (Sylvia) (Jack, Don, and Lois pre-deceased) and sister-in-law Marianne Best.
Dear aunt, great aunt, and great great aunt to many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends may gather for the wake at the Simpson Funeral Home on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm
Funeral service will take place at the Wm G Turner Memorial Chapel at the Simpson Funeral Home on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 11:00 am.  Burial will follow the lunch at the Gordon Cemetery. 

If desired, donations may be made to the Lyons Memorial United Church in Gore Bay or the Manitoulin Health Centre.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Patricia Best, please visit our floral store.