Patricia Ann "Patty" Hiatt

Patricia Ann Hiatt, age 71, of Battle Creek finished a long and brave fight against breast cancer on September 10th, engulfed in love from a family that will miss her like crazy.

Born on April 18, 1947 in Gunnison, CO, Patricia (or Patty as her family called her) was the oldest of five children to Arthur V. and Velma L. (Langdon) Schmidt. Much of her early life was spent living the Army Brat life, traveling from one post to another, while dragging her younger sisters, Arta (Jim) Clark and Cindy (Steve) Wagner and younger brothers Forrest Schmidt and Curtis (Sheila) Schmidt, on many wondrerous adventures to libraries, beaches or to be "chaperones" on her dates. The family settled in Battle Creek, MI and she graduated from Battle Creek Central in 1965. Shortly thereafter, she took on her most favorite role ever and became a mom to Petra McGinnis (Mike Armstrong) and Philip (Laura) McGinnis, and as time went on, her role was expanded to that of "Granny" to "granddaughter 1", Kalissa Stone (Kevin Moody), and "granddaughter 2", Kelsie Stone and most favorite grandson Jason McGinnis. Patty's motto was "You and me against the world," when it came to her children and grandchildren and it was amazing to grow up knowing that she had our backs unconditionally.

Known to her family as a strong, sassy independent woman who embrace a well rounded life, from luxurious bed linens to walking barefoot through wet grass with her painted bright red toenails, Aunt Patty knew how to enjoy what was in front of her and took great delight in bringing her nieces Jamiee Clark (Hollis Conway), Stephanie (Tim) Gieske, and Christina Schmidt and nephews Adam Wagner and Benjamin and Tunney Schmidt, along for the ride. Haunted houses and scary movies will always be remembered because of Aunt Patty.

Perhaps the one who is feeling her loss the hardest is the love of her life, Philip N. Hiatt. He is left behind with almost 50 years of memories of a life spent loving and cherishing a woman that he refers to as his sweetie. Together, they lived a life full of passion and love that all started one day because she needed a new water softener and he was the Culligan man.

She was as beautiful inside as she was outside and there is no way to accurately articulate the loss her family feels. Knowing how loved she was and how close our family is, it was her wish for a private service to be followed up with burial at Fort Custer National Cemetery. If you loved and cared for our Patty, we encourage you to donate to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan and raise a toast in her honor of rum and coke, while playing the slots at Firekeepers (who no doubt will be feeling her passing also).

Rest well and peaceful Mom. Philip and I will always miss and love you.

Arrangements were made by Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Battle Creek. Personal messages for the family and/or favorite memories of Patty may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.