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Patricia Louise Frasier

Patricia Louise Frasier, born to Patrick and Sylvia Howell on January 20, 1942, in New Jersey, passed away at the age of 83, surrounded by her loving family, two daughters (Stephanie and Cynthia) and sister (Roberta Douglass) on October 14, 2025, in Fort Calhoun, NE.

Pat, known as Patsy when she was young, was a catalyst for change. After raising her daughters, she began an ambitious new chapter in her 50s when she earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Communications.

Driven by causes she believed in, she instilled in her children a love of the outdoors and a strong environmental ethic, a commitment that continued throughout her life. Pat volunteered with the Appalachian Mountain Club during the launch of the Mohican Outdoor Center in the Delaware Water Gap. She also held professional roles as a community newspaper editor and grants manager for Isles, a community development nonprofit in NJ.

In her 70s, she rallied her community to oppose the displacement of low-income seniors, sparking a court case that became part of a broader movement for affordable housing in NJ. In 2025, her efforts, alongside those of many others, contributed to the Mount Laurel Doctrine, described as "the strongest policy in the nation" requiring municipalities to provide their fair share of affordable housing.

Pat remained courageous and determined, often bringing humor to even her toughest challenges, including living with Parkinson's Disease. She was known for her authenticity, her gift for connection, and her belief in others' potential.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Reporters Committee (www.rcfp.org). A celebration of life will be organized by the family in Omaha, NE, and another in New Jersey.

~~~from obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska~~~

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