Patricia Ann Walsh

Mar 23, 1938 -

Jul 31, 2021

Pat was born in Deer Lodge, Mont., in 1938, she graduated from the University of Washington with a B.A. in English. She was a very talented writer, and founder and CEO of Walsh|Sheppard advertising agency headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska.

Pat is survived by her sons, Jack Sheppard, James Sheppard, Tony Sheppard and Tom Sheppard; daughters, Sheela Puntney and Brittany Oswalt; and stepdaughter, Jennifer Thompson. Pat also is survived by 18 grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Tom Dawson; and beautiful and brilliant daughter, Kamala Rao.

From an early age, Pat enjoyed writing. In high school at Holy Names, she wrote a short story that won a national award. Her passion for writing led her into a lifelong career in communications. After earning her degree in English at University of Washington, she went to work for Shannon and Wilson before joining Pay-n-Save as Director of Public Relations. In 1982, she joined Alaska Commercial Company as Director of Advertising, which began her love affair with Alaska.

Pat's sense of adventure led her to start her own company, the Walsh Agency, in the basement of her home in 1985. The Walsh Agency started with a MacPlus and a printer, but her desire to be amongst the best in her field saw the company continuously grow. In 1988, she and her sons, Jack and Tony, formed Walsh & Sheppard, today's Walsh|Sheppard. Pat took pride in knowing the company she built provided good jobs for many people over the years. In 2008, she was inducted into the Junior Achievement Hall of Fame, and received Anchorage's ATHENA Society Award in 2013.

Pat passed away in her Eagle River, Alaska, home, a place that she loved with a spectacular view of the valley below.