Patricia Ann Clifford, age 75, of Starkville, Mississippi, wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend to so many, passed away peacefully on December 17, 2018, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Patricia, known to most as Pat or Patty, was born Patricia Lee on August 19, 1943 in Chillicothe, Ohio to Harold and Dorothy Lee. She grew up in Athens, Ohio, where she attended Athens High School and where she first met her future husband Ken (Kenny) Clifford. Patty graduated from Athens High in 1961 and enrolled at Ohio University with Kenny. Kenny and Pat were married in 1963 and she graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Home Economics in 1965. She gave birth to her son, Chris, in Athens in 1968.

Patty relocated with Kenny from Ohio to Louisiana in 1969 and she enrolled at Louisiana Tech, graduating with a Master’s of Science degree in Home Economics and Interior Design in 1970.



Patty and Kenny moved to Starkville, MS in 1970 and she began her lifelong love of Starkville and Mississippi State University. She started her career as an assistant professor of interior design at Mississippi State University (MSU). Armed with a love of design and a passion for teaching, she was a pioneer in her field and helped grow the home economics department at MSU significantly while influencing thousands of future designers. She gave birth to her daughter Cindy in Starkville in 1971.



Patty and Kenny were both beloved professors at MSU and developed countless friendships in Starkville. Patty continued to teach at MSU for 15 years, throughout the 70’s and 80’s and gave birth to her son Derek in 1983. Kenny and Patty purchased a vacation home on the ocean in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada and spent many memorable long summers enjoying the beauty of Atlantic Canada together.



On New Year’s Day 1987, Patty’s world changed forever, however, when Kenny was murdered in Starkville during a robbery while he was walking the family dog. Patty handled this incredibly devastating tragedy with amazing grace and strength and continued to raise Chris, Cindy and Derek on her own. She never stopped missing Kenny, her husband and best friend, and poured her energy into advocating for victim’s rights.



She channeled all her love into her children, grandchildren and friends and taught us all about the importance of caring for all people and especially all animals. Her pets were so important to her and she never failed to help animals in need throughout her life. Despite the difficult circumstances she was dealt, she was always upbeat - friends remark they never saw her without a beautiful smile on her face and a warm greeting for everyone she met.



She is survived by her son Chris Clifford (Kim Clifford) of Hoover, AL, her daughter Cindy Palmer (Todd Palmer) of Starkville, MS and son Derek Clifford (Terri Clifford) of Maben, MS and her grandchildren Austin Marsh, Shelby Marsh, Courtney Clifford, Caroline Clifford, Carson Clifford, and Mattie Grace Adams. She is also survived by her brother Don Lee of Chardon, OH and her sister Linda Clapacs of Mentor, OH and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Harold and Dorothy Lee of Athens, OH.

Visitation will take place at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Starkville on Friday, December 21st at 1 p.m. with funeral services at 2 p.m. Burial services will be private for family. Flowers can be sent to Welch’s Funeral Home, 201 W. Lampkin Street, Starkville, MS and the family requests that donations in her name go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org) and the Humane Society of the United States (humanesociety.org).