Margaret Patricia "Pat" Harr

Margaret Patricia “Pat” Harr, 80, of Asheville, North Carolina, and recently of Warwick, died August 22, 2022, at Kent County Hospital after a courageous battle against ALS. Pat will be remembered for her kindness, strong faith, and compassion toward others. She was known for opening her heart and her home to all she met. Pat was born on February 16, 1942, in Bristol, Tennessee to Charles and Margaret (Dishner) Harr. She received her bachelor’s degree in home economics and held two master’s degrees in education, the second in Supervision with a specialization in exceptional children’s education from Western Carolina University. In a teaching and education career that spanned nearly four decades, Pat started as a home economics teacher at North Cove High School in North Carolina. Later, she worked as Director of Exceptional Children’s Education in McDowell County and as principal for the Burke County School System. Her final years of teaching were as Director of Exceptional Children’s Education in Buncombe County Schools and as a frequent consultant to the State of North Carolina Department of Education. Throughout her career, Pat was known as a staunch and passionate advocate for students with medical and emotional needs in an effort to ensure that they had access to the resources they needed to live their best lives. Outside of the classroom, Pat was an active member and an installed elder at First Presbyterian Church in Asheville. She dedicated many volunteer hours to those in the community who were in need. She was a gracious hostess, wonderful cook, and she made any guest in her home feel like family. She enjoyed attending classical music performances at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville and spending time with her cherished friends and family.When faced with her diagnosis of ALS, Pat continued to live her life with grace and bravery, while participating in a study seeking to improve care for other patients faced with this disease Pat and her long-time companion, Robert (Bob) Molezzo, moved to East Greenwich, RI in May. Pat had developed a fondness for East Greenwich after her previous visits, and she was excited to move to Brentwood by the Bay with Bob. They enjoyed spending more time with family, eating out at some of their favorite local restaurants, and being so close to the beautiful bay. While short lived, Pat enjoyed meeting new people and experiencing new sites while in Rhode Island. She enjoyed taking weekly mystery tours around the state. Her ever-present teacher mentality and desire to learn something new every day continued during this new chapter; many new memories were made. Pat enjoyed seeing the extended Harr family during the first Harr Family Reunion in July as they joined her at Brentwood for a lively pizza party. During her stay in Rhode Island, Pat was loved and admired for her strength and perseverance as she dealt with the challenges of ALS. She was always a teacher at heart, so it is fitting that she taught us how to live, even during the most difficult circumstances led by her faith and devotion. In addition to her dear companion Bob, she leaves her sister Linda Harr of Warwick; and her cherished nieces and nephews Robert Tonning (Jennifer) of Holden, Massachusetts; Matthew Tonning (Sonia) of Warwick; Virginia Tonning of Boston Massachusetts; Dr. Charles (Dr. Debra) Harr of Charlotte, North Carolina; Jeff Harr (Tina) of Blountville, Tennessee; Vicki (Bill) Hightower, Kim Compton, Mark Harr, Curtis Harr, all of Bristol, Tennessee; Karen McMurray of Johnson City, Tennessee; Donna Harlan, of Jonesborough, Tennessee; Alice FitzPatrick of Ocala, Florida; and many other dear friends, parishioners and family. She was predeceased by her parents; her brothers Lloyd Harr, Wade Harr, Lawrence (Shot) Harr; and her sisters Phyllis Harr Childress and Deloris Cristian Harr. We would like to thank the wonderful staff of Brentwood by the Bay and of Kent Hospital who, during her final days, helped to make Pat and her family as comfortable as possible. A celebration of Pat’s life will be held at a later date. In honor and in memory of Pat, donations can be made to the National ALS Society http://www.alsa.org/donate/giving/gifts-in-tribute.html : the National MS Society(team DWALLI) https://mssociety.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donate.team&teamID=29864 ; Emily’s Pink Team (PO Box 541, Holden MA 01520), or to the charity of your choice.