Patricia Ann (Bishop) St. Louis, age 85, of Livonia, MI passed away on June 13, 2018 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, IN. Patricia “Pat” was born on February 27, 1933 in Detroit, MI, the 3rd child of John Stephen and Gertrude(Massey) Bishop’s 5 children. Through the efforts of their family, several churches sprouted across Greater Detroit.
So important was their faith that many of Pat’s fondest childhood memories took place at the church camps Lake James Christian Assembly and Rock Lake Christian Assembly. She graduated from Cooley High School in Detroit in 1951. She married Franklin St. Louis, her children’s father on May 20, 1952.
He preceded her in death. As a young mother, Pat lived in New London, CT, where she worked as a Secretary on the US Navy Submarine base, before returning to Michigan to live first in Mt. Clemens, before settling in Livonia in the early 1960s.
In 1968 she became the President of Shelly Pinkerton Security, Inc., and served in that capacity until her retirement and sale of the business in 1995. She was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and a lifelong member of Memorial Church of Christ from the time of its inception. She was very active in their nursery ministry, revolutionizing the church’s program for infant and toddler education.
In 1988 she co-authored the book, “Caring for Babies” as a re for churches looking to do the same. Pat was blessed to first become a grandmother in 1972 and her grandchildren became one of the great loves of her life. She went on to become a devoted grandmother to 14 grandchildren.
Her grandchildren fondly remember the special relationship she had with each one of them, the joy she found in spoiling them, and of course the shared love of pinochle. Pat is survived by her children: Linda (David) McCracken of South Bend, IN, Pamela Gatzka of Livonia, MI, Mark (Cindy) St. Louis of DeWitt, MI and Paul (Deb) St. Louis of Clio, MI; grandchildren: Clint (Heather) Prong, Nathan (Tara) Prong, Rebekah (John) Gute, Paul (Emma Vought) Prong, Faith (Brandon) Warner, Timothy (Pamela) St. Louis, Kelly Gatzka, Robert (Autumn) St. Louis, David (Jenifer) St. Louis, Joanna (Jameson) Higgins, Steven Gatzka, Michael (Mary) St. Louis, Sarah (Jeremy) Brummel and Becky Gatzka; great-grandchildren: Tatyana, Ethan, Abigail, Luke, Christian, Jakin, Brenna, Bryce, Leighton, Peyton, Jace, Zane, Isabella, David, Lillienne, Oliver, Ruby, Andrew and Arjen; great-great-grandson Jamal; sisters: Barbara Ellsworth of Humble, TX and Roberta Hopkins of Santa Clarita, CA and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Stephen and Gertrude; son-in-law Ronald Gatzka, great- grandsons David James and Leo Joel St. Louis; sisters Alice Bishop and Myrl Branscom; and brothers-in- law Eldon Branscom, William Ellsworth and Milton Hopkins.
Memorial contributions may be made to Memorial Church of Christ, 35475 Five Mile Road, Livonia, MI 48154 or Rock Lake Christian Assembly, 7389 Vestaburg Road, Vestaburg, MI, 48891. A funeral service will be held Saturday, June 16 at 1p.m. at Palmer Funeral Home, Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan St., South Bend. The family will receive visitors two hours prior to the service; from 11 am to 1 pm.
Interment will follow at Southlawn Cemetery, South Bend, IN. Online Condolences may be left for the family at www.
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