Patricia Lynn (Elkins) Ovens

Patricia L. Ovens, age 63 of Portage, died on April 25, 2022. She was born October 6, 1958, in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Bobby and Evelyn (Lyles) Elkins. She was a 1976 graduate of Parchment High School where she was a star track and field athlete and also a flautist in the marching band. She later earned an Associate's degree in accounting from KVCC. Patricia was a hard worker who enjoyed careers helping others and serving the community, starting at Kmart in accounting and as a pharmacy tech, before moving to the US Postal Service as a clerk for over 20 years. After retiring from the USPS, Patricia worked as an elementary school crossing guard and was employed by the City of Portage as a clerk at the time of her death. While at the USPS, she met the love of her life, Michael Ovens, and they married on August 27, 1994. Patricia loved to travel in her free time, with frequent trips with friends and family to Dollywood, Cedar Point, Disney World, and the occasional cruise. She was an avid sports fan who often watched her beloved Detroit Tigers at night with her husband, Mike, and also loved to see her son, Bret, pitch when he played travel league baseball. Patricia adored holiday family gatherings where she would cook large meals for everyone, her favorite being a large ham and mashed potatoes with a quart of ham gravy for it to swim in. In retirement, she spent as much time as possible with her grandbabies, frequently attending their little league games and recitals and later spoiling them with snacks and legendary grilled cheese sandwiches. Her family includes her husband, Michael; her mother, Evelyn Elkins; her children: Timothy (Sarah) Arkwright, Kelly (Cecil) Lenfield, Katie (Matthew) Wittenberg, and Bret (Halie Voss) Ovens; her grandchildren: Elliot, Nolan, and Cecilia Lenfield, Ian Wittenberg, and Kayden Ovens; her brothers: Mike (Vicki) Elkins and Jeff (Dawn) Elkins; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Bobby Lynn Elkins. Friends may visit with her family on Sunday, May 1, 2022, from 1:00- 3:00 PM at Langeland Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 411 East Centre Avenue, Portage, where her services will be held on Monday, May 2, 2022, at 2:00 PM. Please visit Patricia's personalized online guestbook at https://www.langelands.com