Patricia Mae McCauley's Obituary
Patricia “Pat or Patty” Mae Ward was born in Big Rapids, MI on May 6, 1955, to Elmer Adelbert and Dolores Marie (Pedorsek) Ward. She was the fourth oldest of ten children and grew up in Hersey, Michigan where the children frequently ran the roads and bathed in the Hersey River.
She was a 1973 graduate of Reed City High School. During her senior year, mutual friends (Steve and Diane Garchow) introduced Pat to her sweetheart, Duane McCauley, and they were married on December 8, 1973. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year surrounded by those who loved them. Pat and Duane raised three children, Eric Duane, David Adelbert, and Sara Mae, all graduates of Reed City High School.
Pat worked in the medical field and was very proud of her medical knowledge and experience as a Central Supply Tech and Endoscopy Tech, working at Mecosta County General Hospital and Reed City Hospital (later Spectrum Health) for many years, making lifelong friends along the way.
Her favorite things in the world were (in no particular order) dachshund dogs, oldies music and her family. She loved sharing memories of her childhood,cooking Polish food, and thrifting the noisiest toys she could find for her grandkids.
She was preceded in death by her parents Elmer and Dolores Ward, siblings Doreen Scharke, Michael Ward, and Kathleen Mchlachlin and in-laws Edward and Louise McCauley. She is lovingly remembered by her husband of 50 years Duane McCauley; children Eric (Shay) McCauley, David (Christy) McCauley, and Sara (Joe) Briseno; grandchildren Noah, Savannah, Delaney, Ayana, Emma, Joey, Kayla, Dakodah, Andrew, and Ruby; great grandchildren Maeleigh, Maxtin, Carter, Madeline, and Mason; siblings Eileen Herringa, Chris (Ed Shearer), Pauline Fisher, Marlene (Terry) Buter, Mark (Laura) Ward, and Matthew (Donna) Ward; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Friday, September 6, 2024, at Mohnke Janowicz Funeral Home in Big Rapids, with Pastor Jeremy Wicks officiating. Burial will follow at Lux Family Cemetery in Marion, MI. Pat’s family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m., Thursday, September 5th at the funeral home and one hour prior to services on Friday.
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