Pat was born to Kirth and Bertha Melton and raised in Shoreline, WA where he spent most of his adult life. As the youngest of four boys (in addition to his younger sister), he was accustomed to wearing a lot of hand-me-downs and often said “…in school they called me patches because of all the holes in my clothes.” Growing up, Pat relished the social scene at school but preferred relationships over studying or attending class. He was money-motivated from a young age having been raised in a household of seven with only one bathroom and finances became even more pressing after his father passed when he was 15. He would soon hold several jobs, including stints at a gas station, Jackson Park Golf Course and hanging drywall before embarking on his true calling, a career in Real Estate.

Pat experienced early success in Real Estate as an agent but quickly transitioned into management. After managing offices for others, he opened his own Real Estate Firm, Melton & Associates. He was the Designated Broker/Owner for over 15 years before selling to Windermere Real Estate. In addition to fostering the careers of many successful Brokers, Pat also mentored his own sons in their Real Estate endeavors, his proudest achievement. Throughout his Brokerage career, Pat and his wife Bonnie grew their rental portfolio and managed it themselves while raising three sons. Pat valued the flexibility of being his own boss as it afforded him the time to be present for all his sons’ sporting events while also making lasting memories during numerous family road trips to Chelan, California and British Columbia.

An avid Puget Sound boater since he was young, Pat enjoyed fishing in the Puget Sound and pleasure boating in the San Juans as well as chartering boats in the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. He was always looking forward to traveling to new places and immersing himself in the local dysfunction/chaos “…where is the nearest dive bar around here?” Whether touring Europe by motorcycle, road-tripping through small Mexican towns, exploring Africa’s wildlife on Safari, or accompanying a friend to Japan for business, Pat made every trip a memorable one for his companions. During these adventures, Pat could typically bridge any language barrier through song, dance or improvised sign language/body gestures, usually resulting in laughter and new friends.

Throughout his life, Pat consistently displayed boundless energy, and his playful demeanor was evident at every event or outing. Although his favorite pastime was laughing, he typically focused his comedic efforts on entertaining others. Always a character and willing to strike up a conversation, Pat could endear himself to almost everyone and routinely found a way to make a memorable impression on anyone he met regardless of how brief the encounter lasted. Most who knew him well simply referred to him as “one of the funniest guys I know.”

For 22 years, Pat triumphed over leiomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that he never let define him. Longevity for this cancer type with metastasis is typically 1-6 years, but Pat consistently and repeatedly outlasted expectations. In keeping with his penchant for playing the “long-game,” Pat continually defied the odds, and even when chemotherapies beat him up with significant side effects, he never let it beat him or his spirit. Over the years, whenever treatments were ineffective, tumors increased or spread was detected, Pat would simply look his doctor in the eyes and say, “so what else ya got for me Doc?” At Fred Hutch, nurses frequently requested to care for him during his treatments. Much as Pat distinguished himself among his peers, he was also recognized in the hospital setting for his engaging personality and his talent for comedic storytelling, which left a lasting impression on both staff and other patients.

Aside from the many memories and laughter he brought to his family and friends, Pat would most like to be remembered for his deal-making abilities in Real Estate, both for his family and while representing others. His strategy was always focused on the “big picture” and being in it for the long-haul despite sometimes sacrificing short-term gains. In his final days, he was still constantly evaluating the market for a profitable deal with sweat equity, always looking to “trade up.” In his mind, “cash flow” was the name of the game and one that he played right up until the very end.

Pat was cared for in his home by his dedicated wife Bonnie with the love and support of his family and the many friends whose lives he touched. In the last year, and especially in recent months, he was deeply moved by the visits and conversations he had with those he truly cared for and cared for him. Pat had always been a believer in God, but his relationship was further strengthened as of late, and despite not wanting to leave this earth, he felt confident in where he was headed.

Pat Melton is survived by his wife of 44 years, Bonnie (St. Luise); children, Chad, Brandon and Chris.

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