Flora Patricia (Lescallett) McCaughey, 84, left this earth to be with Jesus on the morning of June 21, 2020, in Phoenix, Arizona. She was able to spend her final days in her own home after a hard-fought battle against cognitive decline. Pat, as she was known by most, is survived by her children, Molly K. McCaughey, Carl “Ben” McCaughey (Jane), and Jeri Ann Newton (Rob). She also was a grandmother to 10, great-grandmother to 18, aunt to many beloved nieces and nephews, and dearly loved friend and neighbor to many. She was predeceased by her ex-husband (divorced in 1972), Jerry L. McCaughey.
Pat was born on March 18, 1936, in Cuba, Illinois, to Mollie & Homer Lescallett. She was one of 5 siblings: Evelyn Smith, Margaret Black, Homer (Jay) Lescallett, (all of Illinois), and Charles Lescallett of Texas, all of whom predeceased her. Her grade school and high school years were all spent in Cuba, graduating from Cuba High School in 1954, where she was a cheerleader and a member of the Future Homemakers of America. After graduation, she made plans to enter nursing school. However, those plans were interrupted by a marriage proposal from Jerry, her childhood friend. They were married in November 1954 after Jerry completed Basic Training for the Air Force. While stationed in Kansas, she met Wally Deraleau (of MA.), with whom she would form a lifelong and treasured friendship. After traveling from base to base, teaching Sunday school, having 3 children, and settling in Phoenix, Pat decided to get a job and began working at Valley National Bank as a keypunch operator in 1969. There, she met Bernice Alexon (of AZ.) who would become her much beloved and lifelong friend.
At age 39, Pat returned to her journey to fulfill her desire to become a Nurse. She began taking prerequisite classes as she continued to work at the bank, even working evenings and extra shifts. Pat entered nursing school at age 40 and quickly became the “mother figure” among her younger classmates. After completing her schooling and graduating with her L.P.N. in 1980, Pat began her nursing career at St. Joseph’s Hospital. She worked in various departments before finding her niche’ in Endoscopy. There, she made many more dear friends and retired after working over 20 years for St. Joe’s.
Along her way, Pat would travel from AZ to IL & TX many times to visit family and friends, even enjoying a 50-year reunion with some close-knit, small-town schoolmates. She also ventured down the Grand Canyon on muleback w/Bernice, friend Katie, & daughter, Jeri Ann; took a tour of San Antonio, a cross-country train ride and other adventures with various grandchildren and great-grandchildren; a bucket-list trip to the Bahamas with her sister, Margaret; as well as multi-state motorcycle-riding adventures with other friends. Pat enjoyed many activities, hobbies and crafts including ceramics, belly-dancing, macramé, cake decorating, colored resin creations, and a variety of sewing projects, from which nearly everyone she knew benefited as they received “quillows,” blankets, steering wheel covers, casserole carriers, and even custom clothing. She also loved music, singing, dancing and acting silly, telling tales and laughing, celebrations and cooking wonderful meals and treats for everyone.
Pat entrusted her final arrangements to West Resthaven Funeral Home & Resthaven Park Cemetery, 6450 W. Northern Ave., Glendale, AZ. 85301, where she will be honored and laid to rest in a private family service (due to pandemic restrictions)) on Monday, July 6, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. Flowers may be sent to Resthaven the morning of the service, or you may contact family members personally for other arrangements. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org), American Heart Association (heart.org), or Lymphoma Research Foundation (lymphoma.org), to which she regularly donated.
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