Patricia “Patti” E. (Hickok) Emmons, age 77 of Deerfield passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at her home. She was born on April 2, 1939 in Sparta, Michigan to James F. and Frances Mary (Edgerton) Hickok. Patti co-owned and operated the Deerfield Tavern for many years. She was instrumental in using the tavern to commercialize the well-known event in Deerfield known as the “Testicle Festival” which is still going strong today. She enjoyed racing snowmobiles and motorcycles in earlier years. Patti enjoyed traveling, visiting butterfly gardens and her family. Those who knew Patti would often see her sipping her favorite beverage of Pabst Blue Ribbon in social situations.
Surviving is the love of her life, Wave Berry of Deerfield; her 3 children, Tonya Roan of Allegan, MI, Bob Nocis of Las Vegas, NV and Bill (Tracy) Zay of Toledo, OH and 4 children, she helped raise, Jeff, Pete and Lenny Stratton and Kathy Wright; 10 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Kay Hickok of San Antonio, TX and Eileen (Philip) Schlueter of Manitou Beach, MI; her mother-in-law, Lila Berry of Deerfield and special friends, Tammy and Teresa Schneider and Pat Cannon, all of Deerfield. She was preceded in death by her parents, her step-father, Otis McNicol, a daughter Terri Zay, one sister, Mary Lou Farley and one brother, James Hickok.
Funeral services for Patti will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at the Anderson Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield with Pastor Paul Clark officiating. Cremation will follow. Visitation will take place prior to the service on Saturday from 12:00 – 2:45 p.m. at the funeral home.