Patrick Kenneth Barron passed on peacefully at home Tuesday, March 24, 2009, surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with Lou Gehrig's disease.

Patrick was born in San Diego and moved to Whitefish in 1991 to be closer to his family. His first love was always his son, Kyle. He also enjoyed being in nature and was an avid snowboarder. He and Kyle spent time camping, hiking and fishing. Patrick played softball for many years and all who played with him knew his enthusiasm for the sport.

Most of Patrick's career was spent as a cook, having attended culinary school in San Diego. His family and friends always appreciated his delicious meals as well as his intensity in the kitchen. No one ever wanted to play rock and roll music trivia with Patrick because he always won. Not only did he like listening to music, but also he enjoyed burning special CDs for friends and family. He was known for his deeply felt passions including, first and foremost, his son, Kyle, cooking, recycling and sports.

Patrick leaves behind the following family members: his son, Kyle Barron; his mom and dad, Marlyn and Chuck James, and Ron and Sally Barron; his brothers, Scott Barron, Kevin Barron, and Ken Riley; cousin Kim Roman; uncle and aunt, Fred and Dana Bunge; many nieces and nephews; as well as countless friends from over the years.

A celebration of Patrick's life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 4, at Grouse Mountain Lodge .

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Kyle Barron's trust account at the Whitefish Credit Union.