Pat (Patty among family) was born in Chicago Heights, Illinois, on June 29, 1946, and adopted at birth by Lester Siple and Rosenell (Fleenor) Siple of Pekin, Indiana. She died peacefully, on December 18, 2024, in hospice care at Traditions at Hunter Station in Sellersburg, Indiana, following several years of rapid cognitive decline. Pat was survived by a number of cousins, including Carolyn Fleenor McCarty, Tina Bierly, and Gina Hoke; long-time friends and colleagues Michele C. Boyer, Rita Anderson, Adele Abrahamsen, Ellen Barton, Margo Bowman, and Lee Wurm (who were the core of "Team Pat" over the last few years); former husband Robert Merrill Springer (whose death on February 24, 2025, followed Pat's) and stepsons Michael and Eric; and numerous graduate and undergraduate students.

Growing up in Pekin, Indiana, Pat graduated valedictorian of herhigh school class in 1964. She enjoyed life in southern Indiana and had fond memories of time fishing with her dad in local rivers, observing wildlife, and exploring the limestone caves in the area, sometimes on her own! Following her retirement from Wayne State University (Detroit, Michigan) in 2018, after 36 years of service, Pat returned "back home" to Indiana in 2019.

Pat studied psychology at Indiana University (Bloomington, Indiana), earning her BA (Phi Beta Kappa; Graduate with Distinction) in 1968, and her PhD in experimental psychology with David E. Rumelhart at the University of California San Diego (La Jolla, California) in 1975. Pat's graduate work included a research associateship with Ursula Bellugi at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, where she began her lifelong research career in language and the cognitive sciences, with a particular focus on children's acquisition of American Sign Language. Pat was an assistant professor at the University of Rochester (Rochester, New York, 1973-1980); a visiting assistant professor at Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois, 1980-1981); and an assistant and associate professor at Wayne State University (Detroit, Michigan, 1982-2018), where she dedicated herself especially to teaching research methods and cognitive psychology courses. Early on, she was a leader in setting up computerized laboratory modules for the department's statistics and experimental psychology courses. For a short time, Pat's university service also included directing the Linguistics Program at Wayne State University,where she developed several enduring professional and personal friendships, and chairing the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology department.

Pat was an active member of the American Psychological Association, Midwestern Psychological Association, Psychonomic Society, American Psychological Society, and Cognitive Science Society. Her scholarly efforts resulted in many professional papers, book chapters, edited books, and presentations at national and international conferences over the years, but her core passion and identity was being an educator, mentor, and active advocate for her undergraduate and graduate students and junior faculty members. Her professional awards and honors include the Wayne State University Career Development Chair Award and the Women of Wayne Alumni Association Service Award (Honorable Mention). Pat's genuine care and concern touched the lives of hundreds of students, all of whom carry a bit of Pat forward in their personal and professional accomplishments.

On a more personal level, Pat enjoyed learning, reading, doing crossword puzzles, and spending time with close friends and her cherished cats. She also loved being outdoors, observingwildlife, hiking, and doing photography. She spoke fondly about observing birds with Cousin Tina; hiking in desert areas of California, the Southwest and Mexico; and trekking in Nepal with a group of university women colleagues. Although she was not able to travel after her retirement, as she had hoped, she enjoyed car rides around the southern Indiana countryside and visits to The Falls of the Ohio River State Park—just to check on what the river and local water fowl were up to.

Pat was an incredible person, educator, and friend whose presence blessed the lives of many of us. Her spirit will live on in our hearts, minds, and actions.

At a future date, Pat's ashes will be interred at her parents'gravesite in the Winslow Cemetery in Salem, Indiana.

Sincere thanks to all of the staff at the assisted living and memory care centers at Traditions at Hunter Station, Sellersburg, Indiana, and Interim Healthcare Hospice, for their kindness and caring support during Pat's journey with cognitive decline.

Those wishing to honor Pat can consider a memorial donation to the Detroit Zoo,  8450 West 10 Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI, 48067, https://detroitzoo.org/ways-to-support/donate/tributes-and-memorials / or to the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI, 48202, https://dia.org . These were two of Pat's favorite places to visit in Detroit.

Garr Funeral Services assisted with arrangements. Updates can be found at their website: www.garrfuneralservices.com.