Patrick James Muir, 50, a proud and vibrant man died on Tuesday, the Fifth day of April, the Year of our Lord 2016. After 14 years of courageously fighting the life and health challenges of a quadriplegic, the last 10 weeks in the ICU at Shawnee Mission Medical Center had finally taken its toll. He had given the world all that he had to give and he decided it was his time to go. Patrick always lived life on his terms, so while his passing is sorrowful, his family is grateful that the end of his life was also on his terms-he would not have had it any other way.
Patrick was born to Joan and Robert Muir in Bankstown, New South Wales, Australia, the Western Suburbs of Sydney. Their small house in Sefton was the same house in which Patrick's father was raised. For the first few years of his life they all lived together with Granddad, his father's father and a proud Scot who doted on Paddy. Even though Patrick eventually became a U.S. citizen, he would always treasure his Australian heritage as his childhood in Australia had a profound impact on his life. He would often say his life was a tribute to his grandparents on his mother's side, Peter Michael Cusack and Adele Mary Newbound ("Mick and Della"). Mick was a tough farmer of Irish descent and Patrick just idolized him. Della, an award-winning gardener, was a strong and kind-hearted woman who adored her first grandson. There is no doubt Patrick's passion for gardening sprouted from the time he spent with Nan and Pop at Highlow, their farm on the edge of the Outback.
Together with his younger brothers Andrew, Chris and Tim, and his Mum and Dad, Patrick moved to Lenexa, Kansas in 1978 when he was just 13. He graduated from Shawnee Mission West High School in 1983 and earned a degree in Agricultural Economics and Marketing from Kansas State University in 1988. Patrick truly began to blossom during his time at K-State. He made so many life-long friends there, none more so than his "best buds" in life, Wally Brockhoff and Bruce Cook. The only man that Patrick loved more than Wal or Bruce was his brother Andrew. Pat and Andy shared a special bond that all brothers should strive for, but few could ever attain. Patrick took immense pride in all of his little brother's successes, both professionally and personally. Andrew's awe-inspiring love and complete devotion for his big brother never shone more brightly than during Patrick's last few days on this earth. Together, these three amazing men are Patrick's personal heroes and it is his fervent wish that one day his sons might come to be surrounded by such men of superior character.
After graduation, Patrick began his professional career in advertising, joining the then local agency of NKH&W. His career eventually took him to St. Louis for several years where he met Brenda, the love of his life. Their connection was immediate and their love was deep. In 1998, they moved back to Kansas City, joining the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish family in Shawnee, Kansas. Patrick and Brenda soon started their family, bringing Jackson and Colin into the world. His passion for life was only surpassed by his devotion to and pride of his boys.
Patrick loved all the wonders of our natural world. From the ruggedness of the red dirt in the Outback, to the magnificence of Muir Woods, to the simplicity of the prairies of Kansas, all the way to the beauty of the tulip fields in Holland, Patrick appreciated everything nature has to offer. He channeled this passion into a lifelong zeal for gardening. By the age of 13 he was winning junior and adult gardening competitions for his gladioli and vegetables, even winning sweepstakes for Purple Plum petunias (clearly an omen for his future successes at K-State). True to the spirit of the naturalist John Muir, Patrick improved the natural beauty of every place he ever lived, never more so than at Trinity Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Merriam, Kansas, where he lived for the last seven years. Not even paralysis could deter Patrick's enthusiasm for gardening. No longer able to pick up a shovel, he picked up a pen and became a regular contributor to the Kansas City Star and the Kansas City Gardener magazine (by the way, these are both metaphors, for as so many of you have experienced first-hand, the man had a knack for getting others to do the hard work of planting and working the soil-he hadn't touched a spade since the 80's). He began writing "Patrick's Picks," a monthly column in which he shared his boundless knowledge of the garden. Always striving to improve, in 2011 he began to write his "blog." Again, with the help of friends, he designed his own website, patricksgarden.com, and began to share more than just his gardening expertise, he shared his personal story with the world with posts such as, "The Perils of a Quadriplegic Gardener."
It was important to Patrick that he be remembered as a vibrant man, always the life of the room with an everlasting smile. Those who were blessed to be able to say their goodbyes to Patrick these last few days will forever treasure their last precious moments with him. Determined as ever, he was able to muster his interminable strength and share that smile of his with each and every one of his very close friends that came by to see him. Angela Stiens, an amazing friend to Patrick, made sure everyone knew it was time. Our family will forever be indebted to Angela for the grace, compassion and love she showered upon Patrick through the years. We are grateful she was always there when he needed her. Most important to Patrick was that he was able to say his goodbyes to his family on his terms. His last hugs with both Jackson and Colin were beyond emotional. He shared a tearful goodbye with his father in Australia via FaceTime. He prayed with Father Peter Jaramillo, a dear friend of Patrick's for 15 years and who has graciously agreed to celebrate his Requiem Mass. And Andrew, Chris and Gretchen, and Tim and Stephanie had the tremendous privilege of being right beside him through it all and having the great honor of having the last goodbyes-save for Mum. There are simply no words to describe the bond between Joan and Pat. He came into this world as her first baby, and he left it as her best friend.
Patrick was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Robert Ferguson Muir III and Leah Brotherton, and his maternal grandparents, Peter Michael Cusack and Adele Mary Newbound. He is survived by his sons, Jackson Davis and Colin Wendell; by his mother, Joan Margaret Cusack, and his father, Robert Ferguson Muir IV; brothers, Dr. Andrew Muir and his wife Dr. Kelly Muir (Walton), Christopher Muir and his wife, Gretchen Muir (Hartman), and Timothy Muir and his wife, Stephanie Tucker Muir (Olson); his nephew, Stephen, and his nieces, Kaley, Kelsie, Sarah, Annie, Adele and Emily.
Patrick's family will never be able express enough gratitude and thanks to the countless medical professionals who so graciously and lovingly cared for Patrick for so many years. There are far too many to name them all, but there are a few who were so dear to his heart: Dr. Fried and his nurse, Krista; the amazing team in the Shawnee Mission Medical Center ICU of Debbie and Jan, as well as Kennan and Liz; Rose, his long-time nurse at Trinity, and Nic, his wound-care nurse, also at Trinity. We are eternally grateful to every one who helped to care for Patrick.
A Requiem Mass for Patrick will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 9, 2016, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, 5501 Monticello Rd, Shawnee KS 66226, and a burial will immediately follow at the Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, 83rd & Quivira in Lenexa, Kansas. The family will greet friends from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 8, 2016, also at Sacred Heart, and the Rosary will commence at 8:00 p.m. To honor Patrick's wishes, bright colors are requested at all events: "I never looked good in black." If you feel compelled to wear black, you must accessorize with bright colors, and gentlemen, that means bright shirts and ties.
In addition to flowers (just no carnations, please), donations may be made to Johnson County Kansas Extension Master Gardeners, In Memory of Patrick Muir, 11811 S. Sunset Drive, Suite 1500, Olathe KS 66061.
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