Patricia Ann (Clay) Rabbitt

Patricia Ann Rabbitt, 94, of Mason, MI and formerly of Battle Creek, peacefully entered Heaven to meet her Lord, on Friday, January 31, 2025, at Safe Haven Assisted Living of Mason, MI.

Patricia was born July 4, 1930, in Marshall, MI, the daughter of Joseph Jackson and Winifred Ernestine (Walkinshaw) Clay. She grew up in Bellevue, MI, and graduated from Bellevue High School in 1948. She attended Western Michigan University with her husband and, later in life, continued her education at Kellogg Community College. She was a homemaker, bookkeeper, and entrepreneur. She was employed at Hodgeson Lighting, a local bank, and was the co-owner of Rabbitt’s Country House Furniture from 1969 to 1979.

She met her future husband, Kenneth Rabbitt, at a friend's party shortly after he returned from the service in WWII. They married on June 20, 1948, at Baseline United Methodist Church. Pat and Ken homesteaded in Alaska from 1949-1951. They went on mission trips to Portugal, Mexico, and Brazil. 

Pat was preceded in death by her husband, Ken, of 74 years, on June 16, 2022. Surviving are their children, Douglas Rabbitt of Mason, Cheryl Hendrickson of Mason, Larry Rabbitt (Shannan) of Comstock, Karen Fotis of Tempe, AZ, and Timothy (Karen) Rabbitt of Holt; 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Pat was also preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Frank and Jackson Clay, a son, David Rabbitt; a grandson, Christopher Rabbitt; a son-in-law, Mark Fotis; and a daughter-in-law, Linda Rabbitt.

Pat was a member of Calvary Baptist Church for over 70 years and was involved in various ministries in the church. She worked in the children’s church, choir, and MOPS as a teacher and a mentor. She taught the Bible to residents at North Pointe Woods. Pat loved anything involving her family, and church, as well as traveling, camping, motorcycling and reading her Bible. Pat will be remembered for her love of adventure, unending patience and a positive and loving attitude. Overall, Pat was a woman of prayer.

Friends will be received 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Thursday, February 6, 2025, at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Cremation Preneed Care and from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Friday, February 7, 2025, at Calvary Baptist Church. A service to celebrate Pat’s life will be held at Calvary Baptist Church 12:00 p.m. Friday, February 7, 2025. Committal and interment will follow at Fort Custer National Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest with her husband, Ken.

Memorial contributions may be made to David’s House Ministries, 2251 Hope Grove Ave SW, Wyoming, MI 49509 or Calvary Baptist Church, 1625 Capital Ave NE, Battle Creek, MI 49017. Personal messages for Pat’s family may be placed here at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.