Patricia Ann Muffley, age 85, of Canton, Georgia, passed away peacefully on April 21, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

Patti was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and dear friend. More than anything, she loved the Lord, loved her husband Ronald, and loved her family with her whole heart. Her life was marked by deep faith, quiet strength, kindness, and a genuine gratitude for life's simplest blessings.

Born on March 17, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois, Patti always had a special fondness for the color green in honor of her St. Patrick's Day birthday. She grew up during the years of World War II, and those early experiences shaped in her a lasting appreciation for the simple things in life. She carried that gratitude with her always.

Patti was proudly adopted at birth and spoke often and passionately about the beauty of adoption. She believed deeply that family is not defined by genetics, but by love, acceptance, and grace. Her parents, Arthur and Sylvia Ayers, were exactly the parents meant for her, and she loved and honored them throughout her life. When her father, Art, passed away unexpectedly in 1968, Patti and Ron immediately opened their home to her mother, welcoming Grandma Ayers into their household without hesitation. Patti was a devoted daughter, and caring for those she loved was simply part of who she was.

She graduated from Sexton High School in Lansing, Michigan, in 1959. In her school years, she enjoyed acting in plays, roller-skating dance, and playing the organ as the only female member of the Boys Choral group. She would often say that schoolwork was never her strongest area, though anyone who knew her and saw the care she gave to Bible study over the years would have known how thoughtful, faithful, and disciplined she truly was.

Patti met the love of her life, Ronald Muffley, on a blind date set up by mutual friends shortly after he completed his service in the Air Force. Their romance moved quickly, and they were married just six months later on January 25, 1964, in Matteson, Illinois. She always loved telling the story of their beautiful winter wedding, made even more special by the quiet snowfall that followed their candlelight service and reception. It was a memory she treasured, just as she treasured Ron throughout their 61 years of marriage.

One of the clearest threads running through Patti's life was her gift for serving others. She began playing the organ for church worship at just 12 years old and continued faithfully throughout her life. Her years in church ministry as an organist were not just something she did, but part of who she was. Over the years, she also served in many other ways — as a church secretary, in a family business, through volunteer work with children, and at historic homes. But whether in the church, at home, or in the community, Patti poured herself into caring for others.

She was also wonderfully creative and gifted with her hands. In retirement, she became an avid quilter and lovingly made beautiful, personalized quilts for each grandchild's graduation, as well as precious quilts for each of her great-grandbabies. Every stitch carried her love, and those gifts will be cherished for years to come.

Patti loved being with family and friends. She enjoyed playing games and cards, was an excellent bridge player in her day, and was still happily learning new games even in her final days. She was also one of the biggest cheerleaders her family could have asked for — faithfully supporting her children and grandchildren in their sports, hobbies, school teams, and college loyalties. Through it all, she remained proudly an unwavering Notre Dame Football Fan #1.

Friendship meant so much to Patti. She had a special gift for keeping people close across the years and across every chapter of life. She treasured friends from her childhood in Chicago, her teenage years in Michigan, the many friendships formed through Ron's work, her beloved sisters in Beta Sigma Phi Sorority in Chicagoland, and the many church families she embraced over a lifetime of faith. She loved sharing photos of the family she was so proud of, and her annual Christmas newsletter became a much-loved tradition that friends and family looked forward to every year.

Patti was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 61 years, Ronald Muffley, whom she lost in January 2025; their parents, Arthur and Sylvia Ayers, and Lester and Joy Muffley; her sister-in-law, Sue Knaak; and her brother-in-law, Robert Richter.

She is survived by her three loving children and their spouses: Michele and John Patrick Aylward, Rhonda and David Henriksen, and Brian and Victoria Muffley. She will be deeply missed by her nine grandchildren and their families: Jacob and Brynn Aylward; Abigail and Stewart Rivers; Caroline Henriksen and Blake Annexstad; Sydney and Macintosh Rivara; Owen Muffley; Andrew Henriksen; Grace and Jayden Cope; Luke and Kylee Muffley; and Benjamin Muffley. Patti was also blessed with three great-grandbabies, Sloane and Smith Aylward, and Flynn Rivers, who brought her so much joy.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Church, 1160 Butterworth Road, Canton, GA 30114, with a fellowship luncheon to follow.

A separate visitation and burial will take place on Monday, May 4, 2026. Visitation will be held at 9:00 a.m. at Lakeside Funeral Home, 121 Claremore Drive, Woodstock, GA 30188. The procession will depart promptly at 10:00 a.m., with burial to follow at 11:00 a.m. at Georgia National Cemetery, 1080 Scott Hudgens Drive, Canton, GA 30114.

Our family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to Patti's caregivers in her final weeks, Grace and Hector Ossess, at Live Well Senior Home in Cumming, Georgia, and to Caritas Hospice. Their compassion, care, and kindness brought comfort and blessing during a very difficult time, and we are deeply thankful.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace Church or Live Well Senior Home in honor of the loving care Patti received from both her church community and her caregivers.