Alyssa "Ali" Rose Patrick

Alyssa (Ali) Rose Patrick, a radiant soul whose light shone brightly, was born on December 29, 1999, to James Arthur and Tammy Therese (Wagoner) Patrick. She passed away on October 15, 2023, at the age of 23, surrounded by loved ones at McLaren Hospital in Petoskey, Michigan.

Ali's early years began in Cedarville, Michigan. In the first grade, she moved to Boyne City, Michigan, where she graduated from Boyne City Public Schools. Everywhere she resided, Ali was embraced by a loving and supportive community of friends who became like family. Her fearless spirit led her to explore and live in various places, including Park City, Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Big Sky, Montana.

Born with an adventurous spirit Ali found her passion and love for freestyle skiing, Ali's journey was one of smooth switch turns and boundless enthusiasm. She called Boyne Mountain her home base, but also fell in love with the Big Sky community and shared her love for the slopes with many close-knit friends. From her early years, Ali's joy of freestyle skiing was contagious, and she quickly became a loved and well-known figure within the ski community across the country.

During her formative years, Ali attended Windells Camp at Mount Hood, Oregon, from sixth grade through her senior year. These experiences not only honed her skills but also forged lifelong friendships that spanned the globe. As a junior, she had the opportunity to train with the Team Park City United in Utah.

Throughout her years, Ali had many work families that she embraced and loved working with, including Challenge Mountain Resale Store, Boyne Mountain Resort, Windells Ski Camp, Big Sky Resort, Happy’s Taco Shop, and the Yellowstone Club. Her presence brought joy and positivity to her workplace, and we continue to receive messages from past coworkers who share how she made going to work better.

What set Ali apart was her extraordinary capacity for connection and friendship. Her eclectic style, love for music, her iconic hats, wearing bibs/overalls, hand-writing inspiring notes, passion for thrifting, bike rides, and infectious smile carried across mountains, transcending boundaries, and touching the hearts of all those fortunate enough to share in her laughter. She loved to ask new friends, "What's one thing I would never guess about you?" Her one-of-a-kind energy inspired others to embrace life's joy and whimsy. Ali cherished the relationships she built, nurturing them with love and kindness. The outpouring of love following her passing is a testament to the profound impact she had on all those fortunate enough to cross her path during her brief but full 23 years on this earth.

Ali's legacy will continue to touch lives in a profound and selfless way, as her loved ones ensured her light would never fade. Through the noble act of organ and tissue donation, Ali's memory will live on as her gifts of life will improve the quality of countless others’. Those who received her donated organs and tissue will forever be touched, and the impact of her generosity will be felt across families, friends, and communities.

Ali is survived by her loving parents, brother Lucas Patrick, as well as her grandparents James and Cheryl (Moores) Patrick and Caren (Grant) Wagoner. She is also survived by her aunts and uncles, Jennifer (Patrick) Lucas, Amy (Patrick) McAran, Wendy Wagoner, April (Robinson) Ball, and Harold Scott Wagoner, along with many loving cousins. She has now joined her grandparents, Walter Scott Wagoner and Mary Therese (Gadreault) Wagoner, in the afterlife.

To spread awareness and honor Ali's memory, it's crucial to acknowledge that she unexpectedly faced the challenges of mental illness for only a short time, starting in April 2023 when she was diagnosed with Bipolar I. Ali faced these difficulties with incredible courage and strength. On October 3, 2023, she made an impulsive and quick decision to end her own life. Mental illness is a very real struggle, and Ali would want us to come together to end the stigma and shame surrounding it.

In Ali, we found not just a freestyle skiing enthusiast, but a beacon of light and an embodiment of the beauty of genuine human connection. Her spirit will forever inspire us to live life to the fullest, to dance through the challenges with grace, to embrace our passions with unwavering dedication, and to hold dear the bonds of family and friendship that make life truly meaningful.

A celebration of Ali's life will be held on October 28, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Boyne Mountain Resort’s Civic Center.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to a GoFundMe page, https://gofund.me/a69b4762  which will be directed to Surf the Earth Mental Health Community (MHC) in Ali's honor. Surf the Earth MHC is a platform that Ali initiated prior to her passing to spread awareness about mental illness. The donations will be collected by her parents and distributed accordingly. Your support will help continue Ali's mission to raise awareness about mental health and make a positive impact on the lives of others.

Ali’s light may have dimmed, but her legacy will forever shine brightly in the lives she touched and the hearts she warmed. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Ali leaves us with her wisdom: "Remember to stay true to you, and always honor yourself. Never make yourself smaller for anyone. You are enough just as you are. You are enough on your hardest days, face full of acne, belly rolls dancing, moody and brilliant, tears rolling, you are enough. Continue to surround yourself with people who allow and encourage you to be your most authentic self. Life will never be the same if you continue to show up for yourself, love yourself, and take care of yourself. Please choose to love yourself because there is no one else quite like you.”

Arrangements are in the care of Stackus Funeral Home.

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