Mrs. Evelyn Paty Rabey

Evelyn Paty Rabey was born in Nashville TN October 26, 1928. Her father “Hep” Paty was a general physician and her mother “Thellie” a nurse at Baptist Hospital in Nashville. She had an older sister Doris, of Houston TX who preceded her in death. Ebby, as she was known by family, loved music and attended Converse College in Spartanburg SC where she received a Bachelor’s degree in music. She used her talent giving piano lessons and serving as choir director, hand bell director and/or organist at various churches. Out of pure love of learning, in 1970’s she returned to Converse as a commuting student and earned a degree in Musicology. In the 1980’s, Ebby followed her family tradition by attending the School of Nursing at Clemson University. She received her Bachelors degree and worked in a local hospital, then a doctor’s office, and finally settling in and enjoying several years in Home Health nursing. Ebby was happily married 50 years before her husband, Duncan Wilkie Rabey Jr, passed away in July 2002. For the next 21 years, she lived on her own at their Clemson home which they purchased in 1972. After a decade of not wanting to move from her beloved den with all her surrounding idiosyncrasies evident, Ebby finally succumbed to the wishes of her three sons to move to a safer and healthier place in a retirement home. In August 2023, she moved to Assisted Living at Clemson Downs, 2 miles away, the same facility used by her mother-in-law, Mary Webb Rabey two decades before. With aging difficulties, from loss of sight and hearing to decreased memory and mobility, Ebby had a fall in the hallway three days after Mother’s Day on her way to the dinner meal. At 97½ years old, the broken femur and kneecap created a very serious condition requiring surgery and several weeks of recovery. After two weeks of receiving wonderful care from the staff at Oconee Hospital in Seneca SC, she was moved to Hospice of the Foothills where she died peacefully only 1 day later on May 30th. Ebby is survived by her three sons: Duncan Wilkie Rabey III of DeBary FL, Roger Paty Rabey of Lancaster PA and Stephen Earl Rabey of Clemson SC; six grandchildren: Graham Rabey, Hannah Rabey, Emily Rabey Mustafa, Alexandra Blackwood, Steve Rabey, Duncan W. Rabey IV; eight great-grandchildren Calvin Rabey; Athena Mustafa, Maya Mustafa, Leila Mustafa, Gabriel Mustafa; Kelly Kathleen Rabey, Matthew Rabey, Jack Rabey; and one great-great-grandson (Calvin’s) Salazar Rabey. Ebby was a longtime member of Foothills Presbyterian Church, of Clemson. She had close friends in several groups but especially enjoyed Alzheimer’s Support Group in Seneca and her Finance Club. She was renown for slow eating and savoring her food to the last bite. Even in the hospital her eyes lit up when she was brought hot, black coffee. Never in a hurry, she loved to take her time, at everything! A graveside memorial service will be held by the family at Old Stone Church Cemetery, Clemson SC on Saturday July 11, at 11:00am, followed by lunch and a Celebration of Life at Madren Center, Clemson Conference Center. If desired, friends may make memorial contributions to Samaritan’s Purse, Ebby’s favorite charity.

Mrs. Evelyn Paty Rabey

October 26, 1928 - May 30, 2026