Pat was jovial, friendly, and known for his dry sense of humor. His life was one lived with the full complement of the expectations of his generation, and he was content to lead a modest life, except for the flashy cars that he loved. His children loved him and will miss his mischievous smile and wit. His Catholic faith was a constant companion and comfort to him especially in his later years.
Born March 8, 1934, and raised in Manhattan, KS, he was the youngest son born to his parents, William and Gertrude. He was an impish child, growing up with two older brothers, and two older half-brothers. He participated in his local 4-H for several years with his brother John and greatly enjoyed the days the family lived out on "the farm" and always enjoyed reminiscing about his youth and growing up in Manhattan, KS.
Pat attended the Sacred Heart Academy and Luckey High School, where he was part of the first graduating class in 1952. He enlisted into the US Army and served in Japan from 1953-1955 during the Korean Conflict. Upon honorable discharge and return to his hometown, he worked several jobs before taking a job with Tecon, that would see him working on the Barkley Dam project in Grand Rivers, KY. It was here he met his wife, Connie Sue Jarrett. They were married on Nov. 19, 1960, in Paducah, KY, and moved to Manhattan, KS where Pat enrolled at Kansas State University, obtaining a B.S. in History in 1962. There were several jobs in Manhattan, KS and a short stint in Emporia, KS before Pat enrolled in the law program at Washburn University, Topeka, KS. Pat earned his J.D. in 1969 and briefly served as a clerk of the court in the Kansas Supreme Court, under Justice Alfred G. Schroeder. In 1969, Pat was recommended for a job with The Employers Insurance of Wausau Co., by Arthur W. Douville, an early mentor and long serving Kansas State Legislator. Pat moved his young family to Kansas City, MO and began a long career with Wausau.
In 1973, Pat and his wife purchased their first home in Overland Park, KS, and it was in this city that they raised their family. Except for one year, 1979-1980, working in private practice with his brother John Fay, in Manhattan, KS, Pat’s career was with Wausau Insurance, specializing in workers compensation litigation. Pat retired from Wausau Insurance Co. on Feb 28, 1995. He then worked part time for a few different law firms in the Overland Park, KS area before leaving the law field behind for good. He continued with other part time work with the local community center and as an evening janitor in the Blue Valley school district for a few years. Pat and his wife would eventually end their marriage in 1997, after 37 years and raising three children.
Pat moved to Portage, MI in 2014 near where his youngest daughter was living at the time. When she and her husband moved to NC in 2017, he followed them there as well.
Pat’s interests and hobbies included fishing, especially sitting on riverbank angling for catfish, refinishing antique furniture, and exercising at the community center he worked at.
Pat was preceded in death by his father and mother, William Thomas, and Gertrude Claire (Koll) Fay, his half brothers, William Sargent Fay and Charles Lynn McInnes, an infant sister, Mary Fay and two brothers, James Robert Fay and John Clement Fay, and his former wife and mother of his children, Connie Sue (Jarrett) Fay.
Survivors include his daughters, Susan Bernadette (Matthew) Arnold, Overland Park, KS and Mary Michelle (Steve) Mueller, Deep Gap, NC, his son Michael Shane Fay, Independence, MO, and a granddaughter, Danielle Marie Fay-Addink, Emporia, KS, as well as several nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Liberty Health Hospice for their exceptional care and comfort provided over the past year.
A Rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial following at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 27, 2024, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 11300 W. 103rd Street, Overland Park, KS. Internment at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, Lenexa, KS following the Mass.
In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions, in memory of Pat, may be made to Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, 9720 West 87th Street, Overland Park, KS 66212.
