LIVERPOOL -- The Liverpool School District is mourning the loss of a long time teacher and school board member who died Monday night after a lengthy school board meeting.

Patricia "Pat" Mouton collapsed just minutes after parents, teachers and students had learned the Wetzel Road Elementary School will close at the end of the year. The Liverpool School Board members voted unanimously to shut down the school to help close a $10 million dollar budget gap. Other steps include cutting jobs, including one principal position at the high school.

Mouton's friends and colleagues are shocked and saddened they had to say goodbye so suddenly to a person who gave so much to the Liverpool community. Her husband says she likely died of a heart attack.

Stephen Mouton said, "She was never a person who liked to deal with stress and if you know anything about last night's board meeting, it was very stressful."

Now, her husband wears her wedding ring on a chain around his neck. He's proud of all she accomplished for the students.

"People will say she was a classy lady. She really had the interest of children in mind," he said.

Patricia was Teacher of the Year in Liverpool in 1999. Her husband said she loved to teach, learn, travel, and read. "She was so happy she kept her vision so that she could still read. She could to the things we loved to do," he said.

Stephen says he'll miss the stories she used to tell that can make him smile even in this sad time. "She's really a funny, funny lady, more storyteller funny, not jokes"

Stephen says its tough he didn't get to say goodbye. "I'll never get over missing her. But I know because we talked about it repeatedly, this was the way she hoped to die. suddenly and unexpectedly."

Stephen and Patricia Mouton were married 48 years. Patricia was 70 years old. Besides her husband, she leaves behind a son, daughter, son in law, and grandson.

Funeral arrangements and a scholarship in Mouton's name have been announced by the school district.

According to Superintendent Richard Johns, calling hours will take place at Maurer Funeral Home in the village of Liverpool on Thursday, March 18, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

A funeral service led by the Rev. J. Mark Lawson, former BOE President and pastor of the United Church of Christ in Bayberry, will be held immediately following the calling hours at the funeral home.

A Liverpool Dollars for Scholars scholarship is being set up in Pat's memory. Anyone interested in contributing to the scholarship fund can send their contribution, made payable to Liverpool DFS (please note on the check that the donation is in her memory) to:

Liverpool Dollars for Scholars
Liverpool High School
4338 Wetzel Road
Liverpool, NY 13090

Johns says that Mouton was also an advocate for the ASPCA.