Pat Criss

Pat Criss, of Colby, Thomas County, Kansas, passed from this life at her home on September 23, 2022, at the age of 85. Pat was born at Goodland, Kansas, to Alfred H. “Cotton” Stover and Fontella Mae (Perry) Stover on November 8, 1936, as Helen Patricia Stover. A few years later Pat was joined by her sister, Kayla Sue Hawk Plume (d.2000).

Pat grew up on the Stover family farm north of Winona, Kansas and attended Winona High School in Winona. After graduation, she attended Kansas State University where she studied accounting, graduating cum laude with her Bachelors’ Degree in 1957. While at K-State she met and fell for her husband, B. Eugene Criss, whom she married in 1956. To this marriage, Pat and Gene welcomed a daughter, Nancy Lynne, and a son, Terry Dwayne.

Pat and Gene worked together in Gene’s accounting practice in Colby and continued to do so after Gene sold the practice to Kennedy & Coe, CPAs. Together they enjoyed weekends with friends at Lake Swanson, near Trenton, Nebraska, golf, bowling, traveling and Kansas State sports. They had a vacation home in Pagosa Springs, Colorado for many years. They were married for 54 years, until Gene’s death in 2010.

Pat enjoyed golf and traveled around northwest Kansas playing in local tournaments with her friends. She played piano for many years. But undoubtedly, her most passionate interest was bridge. She was an intense player and competed for several years in tournaments throughout a multi-state region, eventually attaining status as a Gold Life Master in the American Contract Bridge Association. Pat was also active in community affairs and was an avid supporter of the Pickin’ on the Plains Bluegrass Festival, Prairie Museum of Art and History, and Colby Community College among others. Always a Wildcat, Pat generously contributed to scholarship funds at Kansas State University. She was a member of Pi Gamma Sorority and Colby Women’s League.

Pat survived bouts with cancer in 1981 and 1998 before finally succumbing. She is survived by her daughter, Nancy Selinger (Doug) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and their children Gregory, of Denver, and Christina, of Fort Collins, Colorado and her son, Terry (Patty) of Kemp, Texas and his children Marie, of St. Charles, Missouri and Blaine, of The Colony, Texas.

Services will be held at the Colby United Methodist Church on October 7, 2022, at 10:00 am, followed by a lunch at The Gathering Place. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Pickin’ on the Plains Bluegrass Festival or to the Prairie Museum of Art and History and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit baalmannmortuary.com. The many visits, prayers and kind thoughts for Pat over the last two months have been sincerely appreciated.