Mary Pat O'Kelly

Ann Arbor - Mary Pat O'Kelly, born on June 5, 1927, passed away peacefully on March 27, 2025 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Born in Morristown, New Jersey to A. Edwin O'Kelly and Jessie Freyschlag O'Kelly, Mary Pat spent most of her formative years in her beloved Fayetteville, Arkansas where her ashes will be buried in Evergreen Cemetery next to her mother in the family plot.

Her legacy is far reaching and her death will be mourned by many. She created generations of readers, cooks, gardeners, and travelers. Up until her last days, she had a book in her hand, another one or two or even three by the bed. Reading aloud to her children and grandchildren was one of her greatest pleasures.



She was preceded in death by her parents, her adored cousin Jack, sister Joanne Ferguson, and brother-in-law Oliver Ferguson, dear friends Alan Wilson and James Stansfield, and cherished husband John Drake.

She is survived by her children Richard Gass (Claudia Taylor), Robert Gass, and Susan Gass (Tony Menyhart), her grandchildren Jonathan Gass, Charles Gass (Erika Gass), Ian Rosoff, and Caro Rosoff, her nephews John Whittier Ferguson (Gale Whittier Ferguson) and Charles Ferguson, and her great grandchildren Gloria and Emily Gass.

Mary Pat received her BA in Philosophy from the University of Arkansas where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. Her MA also in Philosophy was from Southern Methodist University,

Mary Pat began her working career at Young and Rubicam Ad Agency as a hand tabulator in New York City. Though she didn't love the job and lived in a tiny apartment, she fell in love with the city. She went on to teach philosophy at the University of Connecticut, Fort Trumble and at Wooster College before moving to West Lafayette, Indiana where she quit working for a time to raise her children.

Mary Pat's first marriage to William H Gass in 1952 ended in divorce. Left to raise three children herself, Mary Pat decided to go back to school to get a PhD in Clinical Psychology. While working as a counselor at the Cary Home for Dependent and Neglected Children, she earned her way into the clinical program at Purdue University. They agreed that if she could get a B or better in Statistics, she could join the program. Despite not having any math since high school, working, and caring for her children, she did it. She finished her PhD in record time in 1972, writing a dissertation on the criteria for finding successful foster families. She went on to work at Purdue for over 15 years as a psychologist, professor and trainer. Her dedication and excellence were recognized in her appointment as Director of Mental Health at the Purdue University Hospital. She loved her work and is known for having founded the first therapy group of gay men, for her work with anorexic clients, and for site visit evaluations of mental health facilities around the county.

Mary Pat never stopped reading and learning. After taking as many Italian classes as Purdue had to offer, she applied to language school in Siena in 1984 at age 57, and spent 6 weeks there, immersed in Italian. She loved being able to read Italo Calvino in the original. Mary Pat was fascinated by all the fountains in Siena, and spent countless hours researching and writing, returning year after year to her beautiful Siena. To share her love of Italy with her family, she rented two farm houses in 1999 at the Castello di Spannocchia in Tuscany for two weeks.

In 2000, Mary Pat married her long-time partner, John Drake in Ann Arbor Michigan. Mary Pat and John traveled the world together, visiting familiar places such as London, Paris, Sweden and Italy, and also venturing to Hong Kong and Thailand. They were married until John's death in 2019. John was a loving and caring spouse.

Mary Pat lived her life out in the world and taught us all to do the same. We relish a cooking challenge, we yearn to visit museums, we plant heirloom tomatoes, and are always reading at least one good book. We snuggled while she read the Just So Stories, we baked bread, made donuts, boned chickens, spoke in other languages, and enjoyed the big and little experiences of life. We smelled and ate the cinnamon bread, we admired the deep purple delphiniums, we planted sunflower seeds, picked beans and studied frescos. She will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Carter Center (cartercenter.org). Mary Pat was a great admirer and kept Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter's contact information in her address book.