Patricia Norfleet Bradley (Patty) was born to Laverne and Nellie Norfleet in Bell, CA, on April 15, 1952, the youngest of three children. Patty lived in Downey, CA, until her dad died when she was twelve years old. She and her mother then moved to Anaheim, where Patty attended Western High School and worked part-time at Casa Grande Convalescent Home.
While working at Casa Grande on June 15, 1969, Patty asked an ambulance attendant to help her move a patient. He agreed to help if she would do HIM a favor – go on a date with him that night. Little did Patty know that she had just met the love of her life, Mike; or that she had just given him a fantastic gift by saying “yes,” since it was his birthday. That night Patty and twelve of her best friends met Mike at a restaurant for their first date. She was 17 years old, and they were married in February, 1970. In 2020, they celebrated 50 years of marriage.
Patty was a wonderful wife and mother who loved her family very much. She and Mike have two sons: Steve (Fresno) and Chris (Coarsegold). The two boys added “daughters” to the family when they married: first Michael Lynn, Steve’s wife, and then Melloney, Chris’s wife. Next came the grandkids whom Patty adored: Shaughnassy (Oakhurst), Ben (Coarsegold), and Kennon (Fresno). In addition to their children & grandchildren, Patty cared for her mom, moving Nellie to live closer to them in her final years. She stayed close to her older sister Joann, and loved Mike’s mom, Marge, as if she were her own mother.
With her kind and bubbly personality, Patty didn’t know a stranger and her love for others extended to everyone she met. She was the first to lend a helping hand, offer hospitality, and host anyone who needed a place to stay: visiting Westmont band members, missionary families, & short-term foreign exchange students.
Patty always wanted to be a nurse. She often recalled being inspired by a series of childhood books: “Cherry Ames, Student Nurse.” She achieved this dream, graduating from Fresno City College as a Registered Nurse in 1981. During her 33-year nursing career she worked at St. Agnes Hospital, Woodward Park Surgery Center, Fresno Surgical Center, Community Home Health and Hospice, and Fresno Heart Hospital.
Patty and Mike enjoyed life wherever they lived: first in Anaheim; next the Fort Ord & Monterey-area; and then in Fresno where they raised their family. In the late 80s, they visited, fell in love with, and bought a house at Bass Lake. While originally a vacation home, they eventually moved to the mountains permanently in the early 90s, building their home in Coarsegold in 2000.
Patty was never one to put things off for later in life – a lesson she learned from her career in nursing. With this mindset, she and Mike enjoyed vacationing throughout their marriage. Whether it was by car, RV, plane, train, boat, or cruise ship, they had many adventures traveling throughout the United States, and to Hawaii, Europe, Tahiti, & the British Virgin Islands.
Mike brought Patty to Christ early in their marriage, and they shared a loving Christian relationship for over 51 years. Patty served as a deacon at Sierra Vista Pres from 2002 to 2008, and was instrumental in starting the homeless outreach in 2008.
Patty passed away at home in her sleep on May 16, 2021 from dementia. Mike lovingly cared for her every need for over 5 years, the last 14 months with the compassionate assistance of Hinds Hospice and private caregivers, Miranda and Paula.
Patty was a light of faith and love to all who knew her. While she is and will be deeply missed we are comforted in knowing that we will meet her again in heaven!
We will be celebrating Patty’s life on Saturday, June 19, at 10 a.m. in the Sierra Vista Presbyterian Church (Oakhurst) outdoor amphitheater. Her service will also be livestreamed on Facebook.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Hinds Hospice.
Patty Bradley
