La Marque (TX) Emergency Dispatcher Suffers Stroke

Please send condolences to La Marque PD, 431 Bayou Rd., La Marque, TX 77568

September 16, 2011

LA MARQUE — For 31 years, the first voice many heard when they called 911 was Pat Guillory. The longtime police and fire dispatcher known to her co-workers as “Ms. Pat” died Thursday after suffering a stroke while on the job Tuesday.

She was 53 years old.

“She was like one of my kids,” Maggie Manuel, wife of former La Marque City Councilman Sonny Manuel, said. “She loved what she did, and she loved everybody she worked with.”

Manuel and Guillory first met 33 years ago when Guillory joined the Galveston County jobs program Manuel directed. The job training eventually led to a job at the La Marque Police Department’s communications division.

Guillory excelled at the job that can be one of the most stressful in law enforcement.

In 2001, with The Daily News observing, Guillory was busy logging a police officer’s location, while taking a call from someone reporting a theft and at the same time giving a visitor directions.

Just as things seemed to die down, the 911 phone rang again.

“Our work is never done,” she said, laughing.

Guillory suffered a stroke just before she ended her shift Tuesday, La Marque Police Chief Randall Aragon said.

It was rare for Guillory to miss work. Even when sick, she would report for duty, former police Sgt. Walter Bozeman said.

Even a fight against cancer didn’t slow her down.

“She was always there, on time, never took breaks,” Bozeman said. “Didn’t call in — unless she was really sick.

“Needless to say, (dispatchers) are the first line to deal with people that are mad, scared, hurt, sick, in panic or just need somebody to talk to. She was always there.”

Bozeman was among dozens of people who went to Facebook to express their grief on a page created in Guillory’s honor.

“She was loved by many and watched over many officers, firemen, and EMS and citizens as well,” page creator Kevin Currington posted. “She will be missed by many.”

In 2006, Guillory was awarded the department’s dispatcher of the year though the county’s emergency communications district, Galveston County 911 District Executive Director Bobby Wright said.

Manuel said Guillory remained close even three decades later.

“She would always call to check on me or check on Sonny,” she said. “And I would call her to check on how she was doing at the police station.”

Manuel said the pair met up at the drugstore recently.

“I asked her, ‘Girl, when are you going to slow down and retire?’”

Guillory didn’t give a straight answer.

“I knew she wouldn’t want to leave,” Manuel said. “When you love something as much as she did, you will stay as long as your can.”

Funeral services are pending.