Patricia Ann Stephen

July 18, 1937 – January 16, 2016

While in elementary school, Patty would bring home stray dogs, lonely cats and wounded birds. Later on, as an elementary and junior high school teacher, Pat pursued the students who were struggling. Later on in life, she reached out to those who had lost their way, inviting them into her home.

In December of 1988 Pat wrote in her journal concerning a friend she invited to live with her family, “Dear Lord and Father, thank you for today and for yesterday. Thank you for helping me with patience and understanding. I know that with and through you all things are possible. Guide W. to do what is right – when he stumbles help him get up and please dear Lord don’t let him give up because of liquor. That would be such a waste. Amen.”

Patricia spent a life time teaching and helping others. Despite living with severe dementia the last few months of her life, she continued to offer a smile and a kiss to others to lift their spirits.

She was born, Patricia Ann Roberts to Brockway and Helen Roberts on July 18, 1937 in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. She was the third of four children – Charlotte Jane (1933-1971), Carol Ellen (1935) and Charles Roberts (1939). The family moved out to Los Angeles in 1944 and eventually settled in Anaheim, California, Pat loved growing up in Anaheim, playing in the orange groves, riding horses, enjoying her friends and excelling in sports like volleyball, field hockey and sharp shooting (both rifles and pistols).

After graduating from Anaheim Union High School in 1955 she attended Beloit College in Wisconsin and spent her summers back in Anaheim working at the newly opened Disneyland. After earning her degree at Beloit, Pat received a teaching credential from Chapman University, returning years later to earn her Masters in Reading.

Before beginning her first teaching position as an elementary school teacher in San Luis Obispo, she spent the summer of 1960 on Catalina Island working at the Balboa Bay Club. A summer romance with Valentine James Stephen became a life –long loving commitment when they married on December 18, 1961 in Oxnard, California. She was 24, he was 49. The first of four boys, David, was born while they lived in Shell Beach, Ca. in 1962. After moving to Costa Mesa, Ca. Brian was born in 1964. The following year, they had twins, Tommy and Michael. Four boys under four! Pat and Val loved being parents with the help of their English nanny, Mrs. Parsley

In 1972 they moved to their home in Laguna Hills where they continued to enjoy family, friends and the community. When Val died in 1992, Pat continued to miss and love him until the day of her passing.

As a junior high teacher, Pat thoroughly enjoyed working with the staff at Rea Junior High in Costa Mesa, developing friendships with the staff that lasted her lifetime. After Rea, she worked at Ensign Junior High in Newport Beach. Many years she was voted “favorite teacher” by the students. In addition to teaching, Pat took students to Washington D.C. for many years for study and fun.

Patricia loved to travel with friends and family. She traveled to Europe, Japan and many other parts of the world. She also committed to taking each grandchild on a trip of their choice when they turned 12.

Pat was a wonderful mother who provided security and love for her four boys. She was a loving grandmother to ten grandchildren – Cherokee, James, Fender, Jessica, Naomi, Sophia, Faith, Hope, Samuel and Daniel. She was a committed friend and an outstanding teacher.

Pat’s faith in Jesus Christ was her foundation through the many ups and downs of life.

As dementia began to take its’ toll, her family and friends continued to care for the woman who had cared for so many. Darryl DeMoss, a family friend who had needed place to live in the mid 1980’s, eventually became her care giver while she still lived in her home in Laguna Hills.

Pat died peacefully, on January 16, 2016, while living close to family in an outstanding home for people with dementia called Land of Enchantment in Thousand Oaks, Ca.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 23, 2016 at Geneva Presbyterian church, Laguna Woods, CA. A graveside service will occur at 3pm at Pacific View Memorial Park and Mortuary in Corona Del Mar.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Follow the Light Foundation, a fund established to honor Larry "Flame" Moore, which helps finance surf photographers to pursue their art. To find out more, visit the website: http://www.followthelightfoundation.org