Patricia Eileen (nee Godwin) Quay Barrett, died peacefully at the Hospice Center at The Ohio State University Medical Center on January 17, 2023.
Patricia (Patty) was born August 10, 1937 in Rushsylvania, Ohio to parents Kermit Leroy and Melva Louise (Moore) Godwin. She graduated from Rushsylvania High School in 1955 and soon after married Gary Eugene Quay in Harper, Ohio and became an Army wife. Together they raised 5 children on a small dairy and sheep farm outside of Rushsylvania. Farm life and raising children provided her the opportunity to advise sewing 4-H clubs for 15 years, be a Cub Scout Den Mother, bake cookies for elementary school classrooms, teach piano lessons, and cook legendary fried chicken picnics for kids at county and state fairs on livestock show days!
In her professional life, she was a secretary at The Ohio State University, an office manager at Surge Dairy Supply in Kenton, an aid at Benjamin Logan Elementary in Belle Center, and a sales woman for JoAnne Fabrics and Stage department stores in Bellefontaine.
The Quay’s were very active in the Harper United Methodist Church where Patty played piano, taught Sunday School, advised the Methodist Youth Fellowship, and cooked for many church suppers. She loved having her family sing and perform for family night.
In 1998, she married Kenneth Barrett. Together they enjoyed hosting bible study and traveling to visit family. He proceeded her in death in 2009.
Patty was a voracious reader who borrowed huge stacks of books from the library each week. In addition to a love of books, Patty shared with her family a love of Jesus, pets, music, vegetable gardening, puzzles of any kind, family genealogy, sewing, quilting, cross-stitching, and cooking. Certain days of the week guaranteed where she could be found, the choices including, church, Bible study and gospel Pickin’ N Grinnin’ at the Plaza in Mt Victory.
Patty was proceeded in death by her oldest son, Rocky Eugene Quay; husband, Kenneth Barrett; infant grandson, Samuel Paul Font; great-granddaughter, Philippa Grace Berends; and her parents.
Surviving Patty is the father of her children, her daughter-in-law, Marlene (Paul) Font of Evansport, OH; son Wade (Cathy) Quay of Smyrna, GA; daughters Susie (Pat) Whittington and Kerry (Dan) Boysel of Delaware, OH; and Katie (Tom) Watson of Illinois City, IL. In addition, 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren survive her.
A family graveside service will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made payable to Big Springs United Methodist Church and mailed to 5635 St Rt 274E, Rushsylvania, Oh 43347.
Arrangements are being handled by Littleton Funeral Home in Sabina, Oh. For online condolences please go to littletonfuneralhome.com.
