Patricia Rae McBrayer's Obituary
Patricia Rae McBrayer, 73, of Clinton, Utah, peacefully passed away surrounded by her family on June 26, 2024, after bravely battling cancer for the past decade.
Patricia was born on September 24, 1950, to Frank and Dorothy Stephens in Montebello, California. She attended Loara High School and graduated in 1969. She grew up in Anaheim California and enjoyed music, basketball, and track. Her family would annually vacation at Black Meadows Landing on Lake Havasu and she had many fond memories where they would water ski, camp, fish, and enjoy time together as a family.
In 1971, while at a church young single adult activity, Pat met the love of her life David Leroy McBrayer. After a short courtship, they married in May 1971 in Cypress, California. Their family started quickly with their son Todd Michael being born in March 1972 and daughter Deeanna Marie in May 1973.
After a childhood of searching out various religions, Pat converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1969 and served in different callings in various wards during her life. Pat, Dave and Todd, were sealed together on July 1972 in the Los Angeles California Temple. She instilled the importance of religion and a relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in her family and those she came in contact with.
Over the years Pat would gain many experiences through her employment. Her first job was working at the Sears Candy Counter, and then worked at Kraft Foods. Later she would be employed by the Costa Mesa School District as a bus driver.
After moving from Southern California to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, she worked for the State of Arizona for decades. Her career with the State of Arizona started as a part-time volunteer position with DES Job Services. After transitioning to a full-time position with DES Welfare Services, including numerous management promotions, and working in Lake Havasu City, Tucson, Parker, and Bullhead City, she transferred to Phoenix and retired as a policy specialist working with various Native American tribes in Arizona (San Carlos Apache and White Mountain Tribes), helping them further establish their welfare and transportation departments.
After her State of Arizona retirement, she started working full-time for the San Carlos Apache Tribes to oversee and continue to build their transportation department. This would become one of her greatest joys as she was able to see the program, fleet, staff, and services continue to grow where she developed lifelong friends. Although she “officially” retired from the Tribe, she never stopped working for them and continued to provide consulting services up until a few months prior to her passing. She cherished the friendships and relationships she developed with the Tribes.
Pat’s pride and joy was her family. Starting with being an example to her two children and later her thirteen grandchildren and two great-granddaughters, she instilled a strong work ethic, the importance of caring for others and their wellbeing, being organized, and at the end of her earthly life being a strong-willed person despite her health issues and declining health. She was active in each of their lives helping them grow and learn.
She was preceded in death by her husband David, her parents Frank and Dorothy Stephens, her older brother Ray De Stephens, and her younger brother Carl Stephens who passed away shortly after birth. She is survived by her children Todd (DeAnna) McBrayer, and Deeanna (Dustin) Crook, grandchildren including Kelsea (Robert) O’Brien, Hannah (Justin) Sharp, Amaya Crook, Maggie Crook, Jarrett McBrayer, Damian Crook, Illissa McBrayer, Trey Crook, Lillian McBrayer, Gabrielle McBrayer, Asya McBrayer, Isaiah McBrayer, and Isaac McBrayer. Her two great-granddaughters include Kasandra Orchard and Charlotte (Lottie) Sharp.
Our family would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Canyon Home Care and Hospice for the compassionate care they gave to our mom during her illness.
Services will be held on July 6th at the LDS Chapel at 2841 West 1300 North, Clinton, Utah. A viewing will be held at 10:00 am with funeral services at 11:00 am. Burial will be on August 3rd in San Tan Valley, joining her husband.
Services will be live-streamed and can be viewed on the following hyperlink:
https://vimeo.com/event/4414054/8b98891ed9
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