Patricia Marie Preston (née Barnett), age 92, passed away peacefully on May 14, 2026, at Seabrook Pointe in Daphne, Alabama. She was born on Jun. 8, 1933, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Irene and Richard Barnett.
Patricia married Harold Blue Preston on Mar. 11, 1954, beginning a loving marriage that endured until Harold’s death in April 2005. During the first eleven years of their marriage, Harold served in the United States Navy, and Patricia treasured her role as the wife of a sailor throughout those years and beyond.
She is survived by her four children, Stephen Preston and his wife Kay of Blacksburg, Virginia; Richard Preston and his wife Estela of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Christina Clark and her husband Roger of Fairhope, Alabama; and David Preston and his wife Kathleen of Chesterfield, Virginia. She also leaves behind nine beloved grandchildren, Anna, Phyllis, Jenny, Rachel, Nicholas, Thomas, Harold, Charlie, and Mary; and eight cherished great-grandchildren, Isa, Zeke, Jade, Webb, Beau, Reed, Annabelle, and Frederick. She is also survived by her niece and goddaughter, Stacey Barnett, and her husband Chris Kurhajetz of Lowell, Massachusetts. Sadly, she was preceded in death by her brother, Richard Barnett, sister-in-law, Joanne, and nephew, Robert.
Patricia devoted her professional life to healthcare as a registered nurse. Spending most of her career caring for mothers and newborns in maternity care. She was known for her compassion, gentleness, and unwavering dedication to others.
Her Catholic faith was central to her life. Patricia was deeply involved at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Fairhope until illness limited her activities. In addition to numerous volunteer efforts through the church, she also volunteered at the public library and participated in several medical mission trips to Central America through Catholic Ministries, providing care to those in need.
Patricia found joy in reading, traveling, spending time at the beach, and most of all, being with her family. She will be remembered as a loving daughter, devoted wife, caring mother and mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, nurse, and faithful servant to her community.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Lawrence Catholic Church at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Jul. 18, 2026. Following the service, her remains will be entrusted to the United States Navy for burial at sea, honoring her lifelong love of the sea and her wish to rest alongside the memory of her beloved husband who was buried at sea in 2005.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org).
Hughes Funeral Home, 26209 Pollard Road, Daphne, AL, is assisting the family. Expressions of condolences for the family may be made at www.hughesfh.com.
