Ron, my deepest condolences for your loss. I have fond memories of you and Carolyn sharing with our Youth for Christ family many times in Auburn Indiana. My Ron passed in 2008. We will all be reunited again some day. Blessings and love, Janet Hege

Please accept condolences from Jamaica 🇯🇲. We love you Sandi and Papa.

thank you Jim so much. you truly are a gifted writer and convey our hearts beautifully

My tribute to Carolyn in my weekly newspaper column in The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, IN:
Carolyn Patty was heart of musical family

The name of singer Sandi Patty has been nationally known for years. But her mother and father started it all more than seven decades ago in Anderson, leaving a legacy of music for four generations of family.
The matriarch, Carolyn Faye Tunnell Patty, the heart of the family, reached the end of her life on Earth on August 22 at age 90.
Carolyn had entered what was then Anderson College in 1951, the same year an athletic young man from Oklahoma with a soaring tenor voice named Ron Patty enrolled in the institution. They met at East Side Church of God, where Carolyn's father, Floyd Tunnell, was pastor and she was playing piano. As the choir rehearsed, Carolyn asked, “Who is that tenor who can actually get his own part?”
Ron and Carolyn were married in 1953. After entering the pastoral ministry, they became parents of Sandi, Michael and Craig.
Their musical talent was to carry them far beyond the local church. They formed the Christian Brothers Quartet with Carolyn, along with Doug Oldham, Ernie Gross and Paul Clausen, and later Paul Hart and Dean Schield. When the Patty youngsters were old enough, the Ron Patty Family also spent summers on tour. Then as Sandi, Mike and Craig began their own professional musical journeys, Ron and Carolyn, returning to Anderson as their base, formed their own full-time touring ministry.
Carolyn, who had begun taking piano lessons at age 6, became Sandi's first music teacher. During her early concerts, Sandi was fond of recalling her mom's habit of listening from another room as she practiced piano and shouting out the correct note whenever Sandi chanced to hit a clinker.
She couldn't have been more proud as Sandi's singing career took off even as the family was growing. Once when asked about her daughter's first Grammy Award, Carolyn quipped, “Grammy? I am one.”
The family continued to grow as 11 grandchildren came along. Now 13 great-grandchildren have been added. One member had departed as Mike died six years ago.
Carolyn was unrivaled as a pianist, playing everything from hymns and gospel songs to the best-known classical music. One of her favorite presentations involved taking a gospel piece and weaving classical melodies into the performance. The family reported that as she neared the end, she also asked that any gifts or tributes should be made to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's annual Yuletide Celebration.
While best known for her work at the piano, Carolyn's rich alto voice was often featured. She could match any of the best-known blues singers with the tones she exhibited on numbers such as “I'm Feeling Fine” as she sang, “I've got heaven, heaven on my mind.”
According to family Facebook reports, as Carolyn's health had declined in the last year, she gradually lost the use of her legs.
And now she has arrived at the heaven she sang about. And as Sandi expressed it online, she very likely enjoyed running to be reunited with Mike.

Jim Bailey’s column appears on Thursday. He can be reached by email at jameshenrybailey@earthlink.net.

I met Ron and Carolyn at a Bill Glass crusade. Ron lead the choir and Carolyn played the piano. Sometime after that they visited my church to do a concert. They were so talented. I had a brand new music ministry and my pastor had me perform for them. Ron offered to mentor me in giving concerts which he did. A few years later I was given money to record an album but had no contacts in the industry. Ron and Carolyn graciously invited me to stay with them and produced and album for me as a gift. Carolyn arranged all the music and Ron produced it. They also provided back up vocals along with their sons Mike and Craig and three of there grand children. I can’t even adequately express the gratitude I have for them for how much they invested into my life. I love them both dearly and will never forget what they did for me. Ron, Papa, I am praying for you and your family. I know you will miss her terribly! I can only imagine the long line in heaven of people thanking her for impacting their lives.

As a teen choir member in Phoenix 1st Church, I appreciated Carolyn's sense of humor and her gentle musical authority to make us all better. During "Songs Over the Desert" TV program, when I was a part of the girls trio, Carolyn knew when I needed help and subtly emphasized my part at the exact moment when needed (so kind). When I was an older teen , she offered this marriage advice: "make your bed together every day." I will never forget the impact she had on my life.

Sorry for your loss of a very beautiful lady. We enjoyed Ron and Carolyn’s presence here at crown pointe. I felt a connection to Carolyn the 1st time I met her . She was such a caring person.

Oh Sandi “ i love you today “ I have loved you since the 80’s I’m soooo very sorry for the loss of your beautiful momma she was one special lady . Please know I am praying for strength to get you through this difficult time with “ hope” . Be strong I love you
Sandee Jungels

Praying for Carolyns family as they grieve through this huge loss. Take good care of each other.❤️❤️

Praying for u all! Sorry for your loss! I love hearing Sandy Patty sing! I didn’t know Carolyn!🙏❤️🙏❤️