EMMIE LOU (RICHARDS) CARMICHAEL

Emmie Lou “Pat” Carmichael was born to Clifford and Emmaline Richards on March 17, 1928 in San Francisco, California.  She died peacefully on June 19, 2025 in Wheatland, Wyoming after a brief illness at the age of 97.

Pat grew up in Berkeley, California along with her brother, Dick (Clifford Jr.).  Upon graduating from Berkeley High School, Pat attended the University of California. 

In 1947 Pat married Donald Allison Carmichael and the couple settled in the Berkely area.  They had three children, Mary Elizabeth “Beth”, Douglas, and Judith.

Pat was in many respects the typical 1950-1960’s stay-at-home mom.  She involved herself in school activities, was Den Mother and Girl Scout Troop leader, and was one of the many moms to all of the kids in her close-knit neighborhood.

While car camping was the vacation of choice when her family was young, it was her involvement in Girl Scouts that drew out one of her passions: hiking the Sierra Nevada mountains.  Pat was introduced to burro trips and, later, backpacking through the San Francisco Bay Girl Scout Council.  She was leader and co-leader of many summer trips hiking through the mountains and sleeping under the stars.  After the Girl Scout trips ended, she was still backpacking with a core group of friends until her early 70’s. 

Another passion of Pat’s was gardening.  She was always landscaping, growing Japanese maple trees from seeds, propagating orchids, and cultivation various plants in her greenhouse.  She was a member of garden clubs in the various cities she lived in, including Wheatland Town and Country Garden Club.

A bucket list item that followed Pat from California to Wheatland, in 1995, was her desire to own a cabin in the mountains.  She fulfilled that dream when she bought her 1930’s cabin in Esterbrook, Wyoming.  Many warm summer afternoons were spent on the deck with a glass of iced tea or wine.

Pat also indulged her creative side.  She was an accomplished watercolorist, could knit up a storm, and engaged in other various sewing and needle craft projects.

Among the less ordinary projects, Pat tackled included spray painting a Volkswagen Bettle, re-upholstering furniture, sewing down-filled sleeping bags for her mountain adventures, and creating a tile mosaic coffee table.  Her skills were self-taught.

Pat was an animal lover and was never without a cat (or several) or a dog in her life.

Pat is survived by her two daughters, Beth Thompson of Wheatland and Judy Colman of Walnut Creek, California; granddaughter, Becky (Tyler) Crossley of Sheridan, Wyoming and great grandchildren, Wally and Briley.

Pat was a quiet, independent, determined, and resourceful lady.  It might have taken a while to achieve her dreams, but she always found a way.

There will be no funeral services. A private family memorial is planned for later this summer.

Happy trails Mom.

Gorman Funeral Homes - Platte Chapel of Wheatland, Wyoming is in charge of the arrangements.

Condolences can be left for the family at www.gormanfh.com

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