Patricia Ann Barney Rawlings

1935 - 2025

Patricia Ann Barney Rawlings

April 3, 1935 - January 8, 2025

Patricia Ann Barney Rawlings, 89, of Billings, passed away on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Pat was born to William Louis Barney and Helen Brown Barney in Spokane, Washington, on April 3rd, 1935.

After graduating from Great Falls High School in 1953, she attended Montana State University and graduated Magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in history and a minor in art. She was a proud member of the Alpha Phi Chapter of the Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority. Patricia met James Allison Rawlings at a sock hop in the basement of the AOII House in Bozeman and they were married on June 15, 1958. Pat had several different careers, including teaching school in Livingston, Bozeman, and Billings. She was a Program Director of the YWCA, and an Interior Designer for Gene Rockman Interiors. Pat was a talented artist creating Christmas ornaments and figurines and selling them out of her home. Pat's designs were consigned by Department 56, a national holiday craft company which reproduced and sold her work around the world. Further, she consigned her artwork to Gainan's Flower and Garden Center where her creations were treasured. She was an active member of PEO International. Pat was a long-standing member of the Episcopal Church and served as the senior warden of both St. Luke's and St. Stephen's vestries.

As an artist and quintessential intellectual, Pat loved books, art, design, bridge club, travel, and painting in her studio. Pat continued to design and produce her Christmas ornaments and figurines for many years. She both excelled and adored painting intricate objects. She was a passionate collector of antiques and had a unique ability to identify subtle features and markings of antique items and to display these items eloquently. She also enjoyed spending time at her Red Lodge cabin.

Patricia is preceded in death by her husband James Allison Rawlings and her sister Catherine Helen Barney. Pat is survived by her children, Stacy DeBritz (Michael), Susan Marshall (David), and Stephanie von Friedeburg (Arnim); and seven grandchildren: Allison DeBritz, Joe DeBritz, Audrey DeBritz, Luke DeBritz, Frances von Friedeburg, Alexandra von Friedeburg, and Nicholas von Friedeburg.

As a prolific reader, Patricia would value contributions to the Red Lodge Carnegie Library. https://www.rlacf.org/programs/thrivingnonprofits/fun-run/participating-charities/friends-of-thelibrary/.

Patricia will be cremated, and a private memorial service will be held at a later date.