On Wednesday, 25 Nov 2020, Patricia Marie Durant, loving wife and mother of two children, passed away at the age of 79 in Lompoc CA, from complications of a surgery.  Pat was born on 1 August 1941 in Knoxville KY to Frank and Lois Traylor, the first of 4 children.  An Air Force family, they lived in many places including Florida, Puerto Rico, and Misawa Japan.  Pat graduated from Misawa Dependent's High School in 1960 and was very active in cheerleading, gymnastics and social clubs.  While at Misawa, Pat had her own radio show as a DJ, called Pat Traylor and her Teens on Parade broadcast on Armed Forces Pacific Network.  Pat discussed and spun all the current teen hits of the day.

In 1960 her Dad's final assignment brought the family to Vandenberg AFB on the beautiful Central Coast of California.  Pat worked for contractors on Vandenberg AFB including Martin-Marietta and General Dynamics.  She married Wayne Susee and together they bore two wonderful children, Chuck and Christine.  Later in the 60's she became a single Mom and successfully raised her children.  She supported her little family by bartending and cocktail waitressing and then received her real estate license.  While bartending at the Lion's Inn in Lompoc, she met a musician named Jack Durant and they ultimately married in 1978 and built a life together along with her then teenage children.  Together they took a run-down house in Lompoc and with Pat's vision and design abilities, coupled with Jack's expertise, built it into the wonderful home it is today.

In 1982 she was able to develop her natural abilities for design and started her own small business called Changes by Pat, which she operated until just recently.  She wallpapered, designed and decorated countless homes and small businesses on the Central Coast, including Doctors' offices, restaurants, banks, etc.  Together with her friend Glenna, they took a project on the crew refurbishing a hospital on Travis AFB and spent 9 months wallpapering the facility.  One of her most notable achievements began when she met Jose Carmona, owner of a small Mexican restaurant with a vision of building a chain of restaurants called Taco Roco.  She became his chief decorator and project manager, and through the years they opened several successful restaurants in Lompoc, Santa Maria, Solvang, Buellton, Vandenberg AFB, Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo, Los Osos, and Templeton.  Most of these restaurants still operate today and are a lasting testament to her dedication and beautiful vision as a design specialist and organizer.

Pat embraced her husband's passion for motorcycling and together on their Honda Gold Wing traveled many thousands of miles with their extended family in the Gold Wing Road Riders Association, eventually becoming directors of the Lompoc based chapter "Y".  Jack took care of the technical aspects of directorship while Pat handled the social aspects.  Together they logged many safe miles traveling all over California, Oregon, Washington, Canada, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Arizona.

Pat will be remembered as a very classy Lady, someone who was looked up to, admired and respected by all she met.  She was a trusted friend and advocate to more people than anyone could imagine.  She had an overabundance of love for her many friends and family members.  She was a lover of animals and had many pets throughout her life including Biff the cat, Oreo the cat, and her ultimate love little Molly the dog.  Molly went everywhere with Pat.  Pat adored her little blond Molly and when she colored her own beautiful blond hair with streaks of blue and red, she included Molly and also streaked her hair.  Together they were quite a sight.  In lieu of flowers, Pat would be happy if you could make a small donation to, or save a pet at your local animal shelter.

Pat is preceded in death by her mother and father, Lois and Frank Traylor and brothers Buddy and Mike Traylor.  She is survived by Jack, her husband of 42 years, son Chuck Susee, daughter Christine Blaze, grandsons Nicolas Susee and Christopher Blaze, sister Brenda Bivens, numerous nephews and nieces and far too many friends to even conceive.

Pat will undergo cremation at Starbuck Lind Mortuary in Lompoc, and services are pending until next year when we can perhaps see clarity toward having a gathering to achieve proper remembrance.

Pat was always one to comment on something with a little song lyric.  One that is most appropriate for Pat:  " I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places…I'll see you in the morning sun and when the night is new, I'll be looking at the moon and I'll be seeing you.