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Name: Patricia Gates Mcnagny (Nickname = Pat)
Spouse: Phil Mcclellan Mcnagny Jr., Judge (Nickname = Phil)
Address
DECEASED 2015,
Phone Number
Email Address
Personal Website

Class of

1944 Attended from 1st through 12

Graduated Here?

Yes   

If graduated elsewhere, graduated from:

College Attended:

Indiania University A. B. degree 1948
     
Birthdate: June 29, 1926   
Date of Death: July 28, 2015  
       

Current Occupation:

 

Notes:

Patricia Ann McNagny, 89, a lifelong Columbia City resident, died at 4:38 a.m. Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at her home. She was born June 29, 1926 in Columbia City, to Governor Ralph Fesler and Helene Julia (Edwards) Gates.

She graduated from Columbia City High School (1944), Indiana University - Bloomington, with honors (1948), and, as only one of three women in the law school, Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington (1951).

On February 24, 1951 she was united in marriage to Phil McClellan McNagny, Jr. They made their home in Columbia City and raised their four daughters there. Her husband became U.S Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, a partner in the law firm of Gates Gates and McNagny in Columbia City and then later served as a Federal Judge for the Northern District of Indiana.

Patricia started her legal career primarily at home while raising her daughters. In 1969, she began working with her husband until his passing on March 28, 1981. The following year, she successfully ran for Judge of the Whitley County (Superior) Court, becoming the first female judge in the County. In 1991, she retired from the bench to join her daughter Marcia in the practice of law. During her time as Judge, Patricia played an active role bringing new initiatives to the county court system, including working toward the establishment of a Community Corrections Department.

Patricia was active in school, her community and state and local bar associations. At IU, she was the first Wendell Willkie Scholar to the United Nations, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board (President) and she was active in Kappa Alpha Theta, serving as sorority President for two terms. She served as secretary of the Indiana State Bar Association and was named a Fellow in the Indiana Bar Foundation. In April, 2014, Patricia was honored in Bloomington as an Academy of Law Alumni Fellow, the highest honor that the Maurer School of Law can bestow upon a graduate.

At the local level, she was an active member in the First Presbyterian Church and she was president of the Peabody Public Library and served on its board for many years. She was vice chairperson of the Whitley County Republican Committee and director of the Whitley County Drug Awareness Program at the Otis R. Bowen Center for Human Services. She was active in Tri Kappa, Parliamentary Club, the Crooked Lake Association, was the first female President of Old Settlers, and was involved in many other philanthropic organizations.

For her successful campaign to purchase a 100-acre tract of land on Crooked Lake, and for the personal donation of land dedicated as the Crooked Lake Nature Preserve in honor of her father, she was given the Nature Conservancy Oak Leaf Award.

Surviving relatives include her four daughters, Julia E. (Dr. David) Hurley of Columbia City, Elizabeth C. McNagny of Olympia, WA, Carolyn G. McNagny of Chelsea, MI, and Marcia A. McNagny (Kip E. Tom) of Columbia City; four grandchildren, Dr. Jennifer B. (Dr. Louis) Seele, Jonathan M. Hurley, Dr. Scott D. (Meredith) Hurley and David P. Hurley; three great grandchildren, David, Jack and Timothy Seele; and her wonderful and irreplaceable caregivers, Karen Davison, Debbie Gay, Susan Lude, Phyllis McClure, Kristi Meyer, Judy Sechrist, Deb Shoemaker, Deb Wade and Stacey Wilson.

In addition to her husband and her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Robert E. Gates.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. The burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery. The visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials are to Whitley County Community Foundation Crooked Lake Conservation Fund.
 
Last Updated: 07-30-2015 Alumni ID: 12089
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