Patricia Dean Riggan died peacefully at her home in Santa Fe, NM on October 14,

2026, just weeks before her 76 th birthday. She is survived by her children: Preston Dean

Miller (Jody), Julie Madi Sato McLaughlin (Timothy), Matthew Tadaharu Sato (Morgan),

and Stephen Lee Sato (Shannon); her four grandchildren: Anjamora Ishi, Tadhg Iolar,

Fiadh Rimse, and Ryah Marie, along with her brother Bill (Vickie).

Patricia was born in Portsmouth, VA to William H. Riggan, Jr. and Earis Marie

Coppedge. She was the second of five children, her siblings being Bill, Mary, Jerry, and

Bobby. The family lived in both Portsmouth and Richmond, VA before relocating to the

mountains of Waynesville, NC and eventually settling in Louisburg, NC.

Patricia was married to Tadaharu Sato of Sendai, Japan on April 12, 1974 in Louisburg.

The three Sato children were born in succession and the family moved to Japan in

spring of 1980. Months later, on July 14, 1980, Tadaharu tragically died at the age of 32.

Patricia and the three young children returned to the United States where they lived in

numerous locations through the Southeast, from Louisburg down to Key West, FL, as

well as in Santa Fe where Patricia would eventually live out her later adult and elder

years.

Patricia was a singer/songwriter, a visual artist, writer, and a spiritual teacher. She was

particularly sought for her ability at life readings and opened the independent business

Compass Rose for this purpose.

Patricia had a gypsy spirit and moved throughout her life, often to remote natural

settings. She was comfortable in solitude, had deep faith in God, and prayer was central

to her existence. She also had a strong connection with the living earth and loved to

garden and grow food.

In recent years, Patricia consciously retreated from outer society, relating primarily with

her children and grandchildren while also preparing her soul for the next journey. At her

death, the family surrounded her with music, dancing, drumming and rattling as she

smiled with radiant love. Her final words were, “Be joyful!” The family mourns the loss of

this unique soul yet knows she is free and gone beyond to join her beloveds and

ancestors. The family will hold a private memorial service in the Santa Fe mountains.