Patricia Austin Sherer died peacefully in her home in Tryon in the company of her family on Dec. 15, 2011. She was 91. Patty was born on Dec. 4, 1920. Her parents were Edwin and Marion Austin of Glencoe, Ill. Patty was a proud descendant of the Keith and Austin clans of Scotland. She was exuberant, and in motion all of her life, a dancer, choreographer and teacher.
Patty married Renslow Sherer in 1939 and they were married happily for 63 years, having five children. Patty and Rens strongly supported independence, artistic development and family. They moved to Tryon in 1982 with their daughter and grandson.
Patty’s children and grandchildren love her dearly and will miss her wonderful spirit, lively sense of humor and unique originality.
While living in Tryon, Patti was active in several choirs, singing with Renslow at ICC Community College and in the Community Choir and at the Biltmore. She also sang in the choir at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Tryon and served as president of the ladies guild for one year.
Patty is predeceased by her husband, Renslow,  her parents, her two sisters and one of her daughters. She is survived by two sons and two daughters, 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, with another due in July. There was a memorial service held on her farm, beginning with bagpipes and a dancing procession all around the property and ending with a singing of “Amazing Grace,” by all present while the bagpiper played and stood facing the meadow.
Instead of flowers, the family asks for stories, poems, pictures, dances and other works of art or appreciations of her life via email, at the following addresses: dtucker143@gmail.com, meganoberle@yahoo.com, austinsherer@yahoo.com or rsherer@uchicago.edu. Such items can also be posted on the pages of Facebook friends Diane Tucker, Megan Oberle, Michael Sherer, Austin Sherer, Deb Sherer or Jason Reed. They can also be mailed to Diane Tucker, 143 S. Ridgecrest St., Rutherfordton, N.C. 28139 or Renslow Sherer, 1124 Maple Ave., Evanston, III. 60202.