Dr. Patricia Davis-Wiley

Dr. Patricia Davis-Wiley, fondly known as "Pattie," passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, January 21, 2023. Pattie was born to Eleanore and Richard Petty Davis on February 26,1949 in Long Beach, California. With both parents serving careers in the United States Navy, Pattie and her family lived in several states across the United States including Minnesota, Illinois and California. She was educated in parochial schools, graduating with honors from the Academy at San Luis Rey, California. Her earlier degrees from the University of California, the Université of Montpellier (France), and the University of Houston were the initial steps in her vocation as an educator of educators. Pattie was Professor Emerita of World Languages (WL) and English as a Second Language (ESL) education. She taught and was eventually a tenured professor at the University of Tennessee for 40 years. Most of her professional life was dedicated to her passion, teaching. Prior to coming to the University of Tennessee, she taught teacher education classes at the University of Houston, French at Baylor University, and French and Spanish in three high schools in Texas. Dr. Davis-Wiley was the Founding Editor of the peer-reviewed TFLTA Journal, was Tennessee’s state representative to NNELL (National Network for Early Language Learning), and tech specialist for ACTFL’s LLC SIG. Her research interests and publications focused on early language learning; the impact of L2 on academic success; global awareness and inter-cultural competence; creating Virtual Learning Communities (VLCs) and Web 2.0 tools in the L2 classroom in addition to EL social justice issues. She actively and enthusiastically presented at international, national, regional, and state professional organizations in both World Languages and ESL. Past international outreach efforts included a visiting professorship twice a year for six years to in-service Korean elementary school teachers, followed by a semester teaching a graduate Linguistics class at Chungcheong National University of Education in South Korea, and a winter sojourn as a visiting L2 scholar at Jilin University in Changchun, China. Dr. Davis-Wiley was the recipient of numerous awards including three UT awards for teaching and service: the UT Alumni Outstanding Teacher Award, the Chancellor’s L. R. Hesler Award for Excellence in Teaching and Service to the University of Tennessee, and the Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Faculty Advisor. PDW, as she was affectionately known, was a southern California native who enjoyed the water (she was a PADI divemaster). She was a world traveler, gourmet cook, linguist (she spoke three languages), and was an enthusiastic student of world cultures. Pattie loved music and was a talented organist, playing for services at Mission San Luis Rey in California and more recently at Saint John XXIII University Church in Knoxville. Teaching was Pattie’s passion, but her family was always first in her heart. She married Stephen Wiley while in Houston and from that time Pattie and Steve lived life to its fullest for 42 years. Pattie also held her extended family close including numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. She was an icon and beloved aunt to her three nieces and their children. Pattie is survived by her loving husband, Stephen Wiley, her sister-in-law, Carla Davis, her nieces, Sarah Davis (Patrick), Emily Davis (Philip) and Allison Davis (Nathan) and her grandniece Sylvia Taylor, grandnephews Davis and Grey DeGuira, several cousins and innumerable friends and colleagues. She was preceded in death by her mother, father, and brother, Dr. Richard J. Davis. Her vibrant, generous spirit will live on through everyone who had the joy of knowing her. Thoughts on Dr. Patricia Davis-Wiley from long term colleague Dr. Paul Garcia: The first time Pattie Davis-Wiley and I met was at a language conference in Columbus, Ohio, in the mid-1980s. I sat in on a presentation given by this cheerful and jovial lady wearing a beret as she held a toy bear. We immediately became close friends for the next 38 years, and, as are you, I am so sad at her passing and so blessed that we knew each other so well and for so long a time. There probably are hundreds of world language teachers in Tennessee who, if one were to say her name, would respond with many accolades and comments about her work in educating language teachers from across the state and neighboring communities. Her doctoral students who earned their degrees in Knoxville are probably more than 40 in number. When she retired after 40 years at UT-Knoxville, she remained active in our profession up to 3 weeks ago, when she was drafting yet another presentation derived from a national convention program that we developed about what retired world language professionals can do to assist their former colleagues in any number of ways while maintaining the sense of dedication and joy and encouragement that defined her being. Her earlier degrees from the University of California, the Université of Montpellier (France), and the University of Houston were the initial steps in her vocation as an educator of educators. If one were to name a topic in the language teaching domain, such as assessment, things to do on a Monday morning, the role of the methods instructor and their importance to student teachers (future language educators), grammar, methods for teaching language to K-6 students, or teaching teachers of English learners (here or in Korea), or the challenges of teacher licensure as well as professional development, she had taught the course, published an essay, or gave a presentation that always was 100% well-received. (And she gave out taffy to attendees, too.) Clearly, Pattie was a leader at the University of Tennessee and in the language profession. A recipient of teaching and service awards in Knoxville (three UT awards for teaching and service: the UT Alumni Outstanding Teacher Award, the Chancellor’s L. R. Hesler Award for Excellence in Teaching and Service to the University of Tennessee, and the Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Faculty Advisor.) She was a regular presenter at state, regional, and national language conferences. Her reputation as a tireless colleague was well earned; she taught in Korea during mid-year break, taught online, taught in person. Her loving and caring spouse, Steve, was a constant source of pride during the 42 years of their life together. He was always available to distribute handouts at the lecture presentations Pattie gave alone or with colleagues. Steve usually chuckled as if surprised for the very first time when Pattie, answering a question with “Professor Wiley,” would answer with a wink and a warm smile and a twinkle in the eye, “Oh, you must mean my spouse’s parent, Mrs. Wiley. I’m Doctor Davis-Wiley.” In their too short life together, Pattie and Steve did lots of travel inside the US and beyond. In past summers, they would enjoy the waters of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and the winter holiday season would find them in Palm Springs with family and friends. Not a FB-friend, many would receive a text message and a photo of some delicious meal that they enjoyed alone or with others. The writer of this note is a neophyte in composing these few insights into the professional and personal life of a dear, dear friend whose life enriched so many through her love of humanity, her positive coaching and support of others’ goals, and of course, her commitment to a life dedicated to sharing insights about teaching. She did more than that, she taught us how to be a better human being through her activities. In a brief essay from 1953, Thomas Mann, the great German author and Nobel laureate, wrote words that Pattie did not know—but words that Pattie indeed did live. In German, the essay is entitled “Lob der Vergänglichkeit,” or “In Praise of the Transitory.” The English-language version that Mann himself spoke (http://thisibelieve.org/essay/16783/), carried a title so much less philosophical in tone, but literally more down to earth, “Life Grows in the Soil of Time:” “What I believe, what I value most, is transitoriness. But is not transitoriness—the perishableness of life—something very sad? No! It is the very soul of existence. It imparts value, dignity, and interest to life. Transitoriness creates time—and “time is the essence.” Potentially at least, time is the supreme, most useful gift. Time is related to—yes, identical with—everything creative and active, with every progress toward a higher goal. Without transitoriness, without beginning or end, birth or death, there is no time, either. Timelessness—in the sense of time never ending, never beginning—is a stagnant nothing. It is absolutely uninteresting. Life is possessed by tremendous tenacity. Even so its presence remains conditional, and as it had a beginning, so it will have an end. I believe that life, just for this reason, is exceedingly enhanced in value, in charm. One of the most important characteristics distinguishing humankind from all other forms of nature is his knowledge of transitoriness, of beginning and end, and therefore of the gift of time. In man, transitory life attains its peak of animation, of soul power, so to speak. This does not mean man alone would have a soul. Soul quality pervades all beings. But man’s soul is most awake in his knowledge of the interchangeability of the terms “existence” and “transitoriness.” To man, time is given like a piece of land, as it were, entrusted to him for faithful tilling; a space in which to strive incessantly, achieve self-realization, move onward and upward. Yes, with the aid of time, man becomes capable of wresting the immortal from the mortal. Deep down, I believe—and deem such belief natural to every human soul—that in the universe prime significance must be attributed to this earth of ours. Deep down, I believe that the creation of the universe out of nothingness and then of life out of inorganic state ultimately aimed at the creation of man. I believe that man is meant as a great experiment whose possible failure by man’s own guilt would be paramount to the failure of creation itself. Whether this belief be true or not, man would be well advised if he behaved as though it were.” Pattie, Mann’s essay was you in person. We love you. We miss you. Paul A. García, Ph.D. (he, him, his) University of Kansas School of Education (retired) Second Language Education ACTFL President (2000) A Wake will be held on Thursday, February 2nd from 6:00-8:00pm at St. John XXIII University Parish, 1710 Melrose Place, Knoxville. The Funeral Mass is there on Friday, February 3rd at 6:00pm with Paulist Father Donald Andrie and Paulist Father John Ardis officiating. A Private Interment at The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is scheduled. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Pattie’s memory may be made to either the Paulist Fathers at https://paulist.org/give/ or St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic at https://smlcares.com/donate. Rose Funeral and Cremation -Mann is honored to serve Dr. Davis-Wiley’s family and invites you to view and sign their online obituary and guestbook at rosefuneraltn.com.

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Dr. Patricia Davis-Wiley

February 26, 1949 - January 23, 2023