Funeral Mass held for Patrick A. McCabe

Patrick Alexander McCabe passed away peacefully on Nov. 1 at the age of 65.

A native Knoxvillian, Pat , who was the fifth of 10 children, grew up in the Bearden area and attended Knoxville Catholic High School before graduating from Bearden High School.

His passion for gardening, starting at an early age, led him to a degree from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in landscape design and ornamental horticulture. During his time at UT he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, where he made lifelong friends and met the woman who would become his wife. He spent the next few years working in the landscape design business in Tennessee and Virginia.

In 1989, Pat moved back to Knoxville to accept a sales position for Chris Georges Sales Natural Gas Utility Products. He was a contributing member of the Tennessee Gas Association, Carolina Public Gas Association, and American Public Gas Association. Once he returned to Knoxville, Pat became reacquainted with Joy Georges and they were married.

Together Joy and Pat welcomed a son, Chris McCabe, born during the blizzard of 1993. Following in Pat’s footsteps, Chris attended the University of Tennessee and joined Lambda Chi Alpha; at the same time Pat renewed his involvement in the fraternity. He helped shape young men into responsible adults by serving as the chapter’s alumni adviser for five years and serving with the housing corporation as treasurer for nearly a decade.

Pat served as president of the Scottish Society of Knoxville for many years as well as chairing committees for the Smoky Mountain Highland Games. He was the force behind the current Robert Burns Dinner held every January. Continuing his love of outdoor design, he served several terms on the Fox Den Architectural Review Board.

Pat was preceded in death by his parents, Robert A. McCabe Sr. and Elizabeth N. McCabe.

Survivors include his wife of 31 years, Joy Georges McCabe; son, Christopher Robert McCabe and wife, Savannah Dabney McCabe; nine brothers and sisters, Rob (Jennie), Nancy Van Vleet (Don), Mike (Stephanie), Susan Lorentz (Tim), Ann Bodie (Jerry), Dan, Laura Harty (Mike), Mary Wolf (Chip), and John (Mandy).

A funeral Mass was celebrated Nov. 6 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Pallbearers were Jerry Bodie, Bo Connor, Scott Fugate, Tim Lorentz, Daniel McCabe, John McCabe, Mike McCabe, and Rob McCabe. Honorary pallbearers were Shawn Aiken, Matt Ballard, Edward Kelley, and Mark Loveday.

Memorials honoring Pat may be made to Sacred Heart Cathedral, shcathedral.weshareonline.org, or the charity of your choice.

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