Early Years
Patricia Lynn was always called Patty by her family and friends. She was an excellent student and always received glowing reviews from her teachers.
Patty graduated from Bluffton High School in 1969. The school is pictured above along with her senior photo.
This is the main street in downtown Bluffton, where Patty grew up and went through school. That’s pretty much the whole town. It was small. Quite small.
The annual street fair, when all the streets were blocked off and filled with rides, games, and all the other fair activities that were popular then, was by far the biggest deal of the year. Kids had the time of their lives for an entire week each autumn. That was kind of it. That and high school football and basketball.
After Patty graduated from high school, she began her studies at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. The main entrance is pictured above. The main campus of this gigantic university helped her come out of her shell. It was much bigger than what she was used to in Bluffton. And so much fun! And so many things to do! Patty was an English major. While in Bloomington, she made many friends and enjoyed life a lot more. After studying there for three years, however, she needed a change and moved home to Detroit. She began working for a book publisher.
Shortly after returning to Detroit, Patty started dating Mike McEveney.. He was her true love and would become her husband.
Patty was the first in the family to get married, and it was quite an elegant and beautiful affair. The reception was held at the Roostertail in Detroit, less than two weeks before Christmas – December 12, 1974. The nightclub had hosted a Christmas party the night before and since her dad had been friends with Lee (the owner) since his school days, Lee agreed to leave all the decorations in place. It was a showstopper, to say the least! Surrounded by floor to ceiling glass windows and well-lit outside, we could see the snow falling. And falling. And falling. There was more than a foot of snow on Jefferson by the time guests left in the wee hours of the morning.
Here is Patty with her parents on her wedding day.
Newlyweds Patty and Mike McEveney walk down the aisle after their wedding Mass
The wedding party included his two sister, Maureen and Colleen (the blondes on the left), Patty’s sister Barbara (to the bride’s left), her handsome groom (to the bride’s right), her brother Mickey, her future sister-in-law Sue, and her younger sister Kathleen (the two young ladies at the right – Kathleen is the short one). Mike’s sister Colleen (2nd on left) married Rick Klemmer.
Patty dances with her dad at the wedding reception
Patty and Mike’s Children
Patty and Mike had three children. She left her job during her first pregnancy and became a stay at home mom. She loved that job more than anything. Well, maybe that and coupons. And bingo in Canada. Mike worked as a skilled craftsman at Bud Wheel until he retired.
Kelly Lynn
May 20, 1976
Christopher Michael
May 18, 1978
Kimberly Ann
September 27, 1980
From 1981, the photo below shows the young McEveney family. Kelly is in the back, and Kim and Chris are in front.
After Kim was born, the McEveney family was complete. They lived in East Detroit, which later became known as Eastpointe. Although she never worked outside her home again, Patty’s young family kept her very busy, and she was a champion coupon and POP (Proof of Purchase) collector. Th pool table in the McEveney’s basement had boxes full of baggies containing all this information, and Patty used it well! When the kids were older, Patty was also fond of visiting bingo parlors in Canada on Monday evenings with her sister Tina.. They never hit a big jackpot, but they sure had fun trying!
The McEveney kids in 1983
Grampa reads to little Chris when he is about three
As kids will, the McEveney kids kept growing, and keeping their parents busy! This photo is from about 1986.
The Murphy's of Michigan 