Patricia Adeline Vaughn

Patty was born October 30, 1943, to Charles H. Oldham and Rosalee O. Hemphill in Prescott, Arizona. Her parents moved to Quartzsite, AZ to run the family commercial beekeeping business and her father later was the town sheriff. It was there she learned the value of hard work, working alongside her family managing the bees and extracting honey for the family to sell. She was educated in the local one room schoolhouse and later attended Salome High School where she was editor of her high school newspaper and head cheerleader. She was very active with 4-H where she won a sewing competition which provided an opportunity to fly to Washington DC to receive honors and had an opportunity to meet Senator Barry Goldwater.

After high school she attended college and then later started working at a local bank. She later moved to Needles, CA. While working for her brother Richard Oldham’s Chevrolet dealership, there she met William Lee Vaughn who was also working for her brother. Bill and Patty started dating and it was quickly determined they were soulmates. The story was, they went to look at wedding rings and mom tried one on and it wouldn’t come off. So, dad joked and said they better go get married. They eloped to Las Vegas, NV on April 19, 1968. They honeymooned in Santa Barbara, CA and mom fell in love with the area. Dad asked if mom would like to live in Santa Barbara, mom replied, ‘we don’t have jobs.’ Dad dropped mom off to get her hair done and when he came back to pick her up, he announced he had found a job and would start in a week. They went back to Needles and gathered up their family and belongings and headed to Santa Barbara. They later moved to Ventura, CA where dad took a new job and mom found a position with an insurance company. Thus, starting her career in the personal lines insurance industry.

It was in Ventura, CA where they joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and they were sealed in the Oakland LDS Temple with their two daughters on April 23, 1977.

Later Bill and Patty moved their family to Clovis, CA in 1975 where dad took a new position and promotion. They found their home on McCall Avenue on 2-1/2 acres. As kids, we were devastated with country living and no city sidewalks, but dad promised a pool and within 6 months we filled the pool with our garden hose for days. Our home was an open door for all family and friends in the summer months. Dad taught his family the love of boating. We were all waterskiing at young ages and lived our lives out on the many lakes surrounding Clovis. My parents were always taking friends and family for ski rides.

As my sister and I became active in our activities at Clovis High School, my parents were active members of the band booster club and never missed a high school football game or band review. Later active in the Clovis Exchange Club. Our parents were huge supporters of Clovis Community Theater and the Miss Clovis Pageant, assisting with fundraising for many scholarships for local Clovis students.

Bill and Patty were inseparable in all that they did and found themselves working together in their own business, PVA and Associates. This led them to travel the country with Patty lecturing on personal lines insurance and setting up 5-year business plans while Bill managed the computer and printing side of the business. The connections and friendships they made while traveling had them both a favorite and were sought after professionally.

Patty was involved in family history and an active DAR member. For years Bill and Patty were family history consultants, helping others in their search. They were active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Days Saints. Patty served in many positions within the church, Young Women President, Primary President, and later Stake Primary President. Bill and Patty served together in the Young Single Adults ward where they were loved by all they served with. They both served as Temple Workers in the Fresno LDS Temple.

Never to sit still, Patty had a love for gardening and had her beloved rose garden where often Jackson and Perkins would send her roses to test. She loved to bake, with her family being the ones to test out her creations. She entered the Pillsbury Bake-off every year but never hit the winner recipe except in her family’s eyes. She was known for her Cherry Chocolate Chips Cookies and if you ever helped her in the yard, you would find a plate of hot cookies waiting for you at the house. She loved to sew and was an excellent seamstress, a talent she later passed down to her daughter Mindy and grand-daughter Joelle.

Later in life her great love was spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Each one she developed a special relationship with. When the children would come to visit, they would ask her to pull out their favorite book, Uncle Remus, as she would read each character in their voice.

Patty was known for her positive outlook on life, despite the health issues she suffered with throughout her life. She was a breast cancer survivor for 25 years and in the end, it was a battle with pancreatic cancer. The doctors gave her 90 days to live, but Patty was going to prove them wrong and endured 2.5 years of treatment. Her family and friends rallied around her with their support. Her daughters can’t thank Patty’s close friends and church members for 2.5 years were always bringing in meals, rolling trash cans out to the street, yard work, zoom calls with groups of friends, or just stopping by for a visit that made her last years of her life a gift. It’s that example our family will treasure forever. The family would also like to express appreciation and gratitude to the individuals who cared for and assisted Patty through her health challenges over the last 2.5 years.

Patty is preceded in death by her loving husband, William L. Vaughn (Bill) who passed away December 20, 2017. Parents Charles Oldham and Rosalee Oldham Wheeler, and sister Hellen K. Davis.

She is survived by her brother Richard C. Oldham (AZ). Daughter Melinda J. Vaughn (Mindy) and grandson, Austin Wood of Sandy, (UT). Daughter, Wendee K. Winter and son-in-law Joel Winter of (Clovis, CA) and grandson Brendan Winter (UT), grandson Andrew (Angela) Winter (CA) with great grandchildren, Avery, Abella, Anthony and Adeline, granddaughter Joelle Winter (UT) and grandson, Logan Winter (ID).

A Funeral service for Patricia will be held Friday, February 2, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Fresno East Stake Building, 1880 Gettysburg Avenue, Clovis, California 93611.

Following the Funeral service will be a committal service at 12:30 p.m. at Academy Cemetery, 10880 Mendocino Avenue, Clovis, California 93612.