May 30, 1938 – April 4, 2019
Patricia L. “Pat” Mars, 80, Sheridan, passed away on Thursday evening, April 4, 2019 at Maple Park Village in Westfield. Born May 30, 1938 in Jefferson County, Ind., she was the daughter of the late Edgar Franklin and Nellie Marie (Day) Rausch. She was a 1956 graduate of Westfield High School and a member of the Arcadia Christian Church.
God, family and friends directed her life. For a little over a decade, roughly 1982 to 1993, Pat helped run the cafeteria at Adams Elementary School in Sheridan. Her favorite part of the job had nothing to do with preparing meals or making sure everything ran smoothly – it was the friendships she made at the school and the opportunity to follow an entire generation of Sheridan students from their first day of kindergarten until they moved over to the Jr./Sr. high building. Even after they changed buildings, she enjoyed keeping tabs on them as they matured into young adults.
When her oldest daughter joined the high school band program, Pat became a member of the Blackhawk Band Boosters. She remained very active within the organization for over 13 years, seeing both of her girls through the program and for many, many years after they had graduated. She loved the kids, and even more, she loved the friends she made through the years. Pat was an enthusiastic chaperone whenever the band traveled and was a second mom to many kids when they were away from home. She was also a dedicated fundraiser for the Booster program. For many years Pat helped run the concession area for McClain Auction Company, serving up Coney dogs, ham and beans, homemade pie, and Pat’s specialty – good conversation.
After she left the Sheridan school system, she went to work at Smokey Row Elementary School in Carmel until her retirement in 1995. Pat tried retirement for a bit, and it didn’t set too well with her. She didn’t miss the work – she missed the people. She hired on with Pioneer Seeds for several years as a seed corn sorter. You could hear the excitement in her voice when it was getting close to harvest time and time to go back to work at Pioneer. Pat also spent many years helping with various special activities at the Sheridan Healthcare Center. Many of her friends from over the years became residents, and that was her opportunity to do what she did best, visit and just be a friend.
Pat was a dedicated farm wife and the family farm in northwest Hamilton County was her favorite place in the whole world. Any animal (and yes that included all of the livestock) that found its way onto Pat and Harold’s farm instantly became a named pet and found its forever home. She was a woman of strong faith and when she needed alone time with God, her garden was her sanctuary. She could spend hours weeding, mowing and talking with God. From her flowers to her wind chimes, she took great pride in the task of keeping everything at the farm looking its best, because quite frankly, nobody else knew how to do it the right way.
Pat is survived by her loving husband, Harold Wayne Mars. She and Harold were married on January 8, 1961. Also surviving are two daughters, Kimberly Sue Stakelbeck (Michael), Noblesville, and Melinda Jo Mars-Bowyer, Noblesville; her grandchildren, Kendra Stakelbeck-Hartle (Derek) and Brock Stakelbeck, both of Noblesville; her sister, Sue Ann Lents (Pete), Tuscan, Ariz.; her loving cat, Angie; and by her grand dog, Hyzer.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2019 at Kercheval Funeral Home, 306 E. 10th St., Sheridan. Entombment will follow at Oaklawn memorial Gardens in Indianapolis. Pastor J.R. Moffatt will be officiating. Visitation will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday evening, April 10, 2019 at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be presented to the Arcadia Christian Church, 26901 State Road 19, P.O. Box 544, Arcadia, IN 46030, and designated toward the Church Building Fund.
Arrangements
Calling: 4 to 8 p.m., April 10
Service: 10 a.m., April 11
Location: Kercheval Funeral Home
Condolences: kerchevalfuneralhome.com