09/14/2023

Obituary for Patricia M. "Patty" McWilliams

Mother of Tom McWilliams, Owner of McWilliams Funeral Home

Patricia M. "Patty" McWilliams, age 85, of Wellston, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at the Holzer Medical Center ER in Jackson, Ohio. She was born on July 15, 1938, at her grandparents’ house in Wellston, Ohio, to the late Thomas A. Deck and Clara E. Martin Deck. This 3-pound baby girl went on to live a long and happy life. Patty graduated from Wellston High School with the class of 1956. While in high school, she was very active as a soloist in the high school chorus and was also a member of the marching band, with whom she marched in the Cherry Blossom Festival parade in Washington D.C. in 1955. On December 7, 1956, Patty married Jim McWilliams at the former E.U.B. Church in Wellston. In the 1960's and early 1970's, Patty worked at both Perdue's Five and Dime and Winkler's Shoe Store in Wellston. In 1976, she started working for Wellston City Schools as a cafeteria cook. Over a period of 25 years, she cooked at Wellston High School, Wellston Jr. High and Bundy Elementary, until her retirement in June of 2001. Patty was also part of the former Gospel Bells Trio, a well-known gospel trio in the local area in the 1970's. She always enjoyed singing, cooking, making noodles, baking apple pies and chocolate chip cookies, going to car shows, and vacation trips. Patty attended Grace Baptist Fellowship Church. She is survived by daughter, Jean Ann Moshier; son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Sharon McWilliams; grandchildren, Josh McWilliams and Kayla, Alex McWilliams and Audrey, and Morgan McWilliams and Amber; great-grandchildren, Annie, Hunter, Isaac, Conor, Brayden, Braxton, Lauren, and Hadley; sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Mike Hagerty; sister-in-law, Mona Lee Scurlock; along with many nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Jim McWilliams in 2021; and son-in-law, Steve Moshier in 2019. Calling hours will be Sunday, September 10th, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the McWilliams Funeral Home in Wellston. Funeral service will be Monday, September 11th, at 11 a.m. at the McWilliams Funeral Home with Pastor Tim Jones officiating. Burial will follow in the Ridgewood Cemetery. For those who wish, contributions in Patty’s memory can be given to Grace Baptist Church, 240 South New York Avenue, Wellston, Ohio 45692. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.mcwilliams-funeralhome.com.