Patricia Ann Matthiessen
Obituary
Resident of Las Vegas, Nevada. Patty was born in Gilroy, CA, the first of four children to Paul and Yoshie Yokoi. She had spent most of her youth and young adulthood in Morgan Hill, CA, eventually marrying Gary Matthiessen of Santa Cruz, then establishing their place in Las Vegas, NV where they raised their son, Mike. The family shared their love for anything with wheels, music and any time they could spend together in work or play. Patty loved to dance.
Patty retired from longtime employment with a local communications company. Patty had begun developing her clerical skills in high school business classes, including professional etiquette, speedy shorthand and the use of manual and electric typewriters (early word processors).
Patty and her siblings took piano lessons from Mrs. Eva Hall Thompson, who had patiently taught scores of South County students. Patty was accompanist to her classmates in the P.A. Walsh Elementary School choir and she played piano for the Morgan Hill Buddhist Church.
Patty enjoyed returning to her hometown, to the house that her parents had purchased in the 1950's. She looked forward to visiting with friends and teachers who still lived in the neighborhood and she maintained online and in-person contact with friends from her days in school, swim team, water polo and church. Patty was wirelessly connected to her phone, which was almost as smart and receptive as she was. Friends have shared that they had been exchanging texts with Patty until just days before she had passed.
Patty often planned her hometown trips around gatherings of the Live Oak Class of 1968. Patty looked forward to reuniting with classmates, meeting their spouses, sharing memories and catching up on personal triumphs and losses.
Patty was preceded in death by her husband Gary, her father Paul and her brother Bruce. Patty is survived by her mother Yoshie, sisters Nancy (Howard) and Elinor, son Mike, daughter-in-law Linda, granddaughter Emiko, a nephew and niece, and close cousins.
In this time of COVID restrictions and regulations, a small local memorial was held for Patty in Las Vegas. Patty is missed by all who loved her.
Published in Morgan Hill Times · March 18, 2021