| About Our Founding Member, Pat Kakos |
On January 29, 2023, Pat Kakos, passed away at the age of 90 years young. 29 years ago, Pat decided Wimberley needed a quilt guild and invited 3 friends over to her home to decide how to get it started in June of 1994. They decided they would meet every 1st Wednesday of each month, just as we still do today. In July, four more quilters joined the group being held at Pat’s home. The following month, a few more came and they reached enough to seek out a new location. They began meeting at the original Senior Center in Wimberley. They met every Wednesday to quilt. Dues were $1 a month then.
In 1997, when I (Bert) joined the guild, there were about 15 members, and they were already making quilts for the kids to donate to the Women’s Shelter in San Marcos, the same Community Service project we have now. They also would have a quilt in frame at the center where we would learn to hand quilt, taught by some experienced quilters. It was the best day of the week for me (Bert), and I loved learning from them because I was really new to quilting and to Wimberley. Many of the original group are gone now, and I seem to be the last of the group from 1997 to still be a member. But I can tell you these ladies are all missed, and especially Pat, because she remained active with us until just before Covid happened. She made many quilts for the shelter and we always enjoyed her stopping by. Pat also always opened her home to a group of ladies that met in the home to stitch many times and it always was special.
Without Pat Kakos having the desire to start this guild, we don’t know if we would even exist today. I has been a pleasure to know her all these years, and I know many of us will miss her. Please remember our founding member and say thank you to her for having the vision to start a guild.
Submitted by Bert Nickelson, Sunshine & Historian