Pat Summitt gives final gift to people with Alzheimer’s

The University of Tennessee's Bowling Arena was packed for a ceremony to remember Pat Summitt, who died in June from early onset Alzheimer's disease. It was also filled with flowers.

After the ceremony, Random Acts of Flowers worked with Alzheimer's Tennessee to deconstruct and distribute those flowers into more than 300 bouquets to people with Alzheimer's in the state.

Geraldine Watson was one of the recipients. Watson lives at Sherrill Hills Resort Lifestyle Retirement Community, where Summitt spent her final days.

"She was remarkable," Watson says to WATE. "We joked with her. We even got her down to play bean bag with us one day, and when she didn't play, she would be our coach. We would all call her coach."

The facility had a happy hour toast to Summitt with memorabilia, her famous jalapeno corn casserole and lots and lots of orange.

Nicole Stempak

Nicole was Senior Editor at I Advance Senior Care and Long Term Living Magazine 2015-2017. She has a Journalism degree from Kent State University and is finalizing a master’s degree in Information Architecture and Management. She has extensive studies in the digital user experience and in branding online media. She has worked as an editor and writer for various B2B publications, including Business Finance.