Pat was born on November 18, 1929 at Dinsmore, Saskatchewan where she was raised on the family farm. She moved to Saskatoon in 1945 to attend high school. She went on to university in Saskatoon and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Education degree. She married Don Adams on August 28, 1954. They settled in the Sutherland area of Saskatoon where they raised their three sons. Pat dedicated much of her life to her community. Not only was Pat on the executive of the Sutherland Recreation Association, she was also the secretary of the Home and School Association and she served as coordinator of the kindergarten program from 1968 to 1973. At that time she spearheaded a community effort to have kindergarten become part of the school system. Over the years she has served as a volunteer for many causes including Cancer, Heart, United Way and Diabetic Associations and has been a long time driver for Meals on Wheels. She was the Chairperson of the Frank Eliason Centre during the initial three years of its operations and continued to serve on the board for an additional 8 years. She was active in the Saskatoon Environmental Society acting as chairperson for 4 years and also the membership chair for another 4 years. Pat also served as a representative of the Saskatoon Senior Citizens Council on the Saskatchewan Association of Special Care Homes for 4 years during the 1980s. More recently, Pat served on the board of the Saskatoon Community Chaplaincy Association. She was an avid supporter of the co-operative movement that included a three-year term on the Co-op Board of Directors.

She was extremely dedicated to the work of the Saskatchewan and Saskatoon Nature Societies and served as President of the Saskatoon Nature Society. She was co-organizer of Earth Day, Saskatoon and was involved in organizing the River Bank Cleanup Project that was a co-operative endeavor of the Meewasin Valley Authority and the Nature Society. The Meewasin Valley Authority recognized her many years of service in 1991 by awarding her the Meewasin Valley Conservation Award. Pat was elected Fellow of the Saskatchewan Nature Society. In recognition of her years of voluntary contribution she was the first to receive the Saskatoon Hadassah-Wizo Sterling Award in 1991.

For the past 40 years Pat was active in the Unitarian Congregation serving the congregation in many capacities including lay Chaplain for 16 years and was President of the Canadian Unitarian Chaplains for 3 years.