Denise Sue Patey's Obituary
After a beautiful life filled with laughter, love, family, and friends, we share the heartbreaking news of the 20 December 2025 passing of Denise Sue Patey, 69, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend, in Valley Center, California, surrounded by her husband, Henri Patey, and daughter, Michelle Sams.
Denise was born on 23 May 1956, to Douglas Milton Taylor and Mary Ellen Pingree in Santa Monica, CA. In her younger years, she loved spending time with her family and spoke often of the fun times she had with her siblings, singing old-time songs during their car rides.
Denise graduated from James Monroe High School in 1974 and furthered her studies at Brigham Young University.
Denise served a successful Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints mission in Consepcion, Chile, from August 1979 to January 1981. After returning from her mission, and while living in Northridge, California, she met the love of her life, Henri Cameron Patey. Denise and Henri were sealed together for time and all eternity in the Los Angeles Temple on 13 February 1982.
They had one son, Cameron, and two daughters, Michelle and Kelly. Henri's work required that they live overseas, which Denise thoroughly supported and loved. They first lived in Taipei, Taiwan from 1992 to 1998 and then Sao Paulo, Brazil from 1999 to 2004. Denise, being a natural explorer and adventurer, cherished the opportunity to live overseas. She happily explored the regions where they lived and met many people from many different cultures and shared so much joy with all the people she met.
She also planned several exotic family trips while overseas including a trip to northern Thailand so the family could raft down a jungle river, snow ski on a live volcano in Chillan, Chile, and stay on a floating hotel deep in the Amazon rain forest on the Negro River right next to the Amazon River. Denise and Henri eventually settled in Valley Center, California, where they built their modern eco-friendly dream home on over 8 acres of land.
Denise spent countless hours designing many different gardens on their land. The gardens included all kinds of exotic succulents, flowers, cacti, ground cover, and desert rocks of all shapes, colors and sizes. She also designed, planted and grew a permaculture fruit tree farm totaling over 50 trees!
Throughout the years, Denise also learned to be an expert seamstress. She started and successfully ran an online clothing business "DeniSue4U" where she sold christening dresses and all kinds of crochet products worldwide! Denise dedicated her life, energy, and love to raising her children and finding joy in her grandchildren.
While being the best mom ever, Denise served in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in various callings. With her kind heart and warm nature, she was always involved in loving those around her, showing her faith in Christ through her actions and words. She brought optimism, humor, and grace to everything and gave us all an unwavering example of faith in God, devotion to her spouse and family, and love for all who were blessed to know her.
Denise and Henri, married almost 44 years, were a support and comfort to each other throughout their lives. Denise is survived by her husband, Henri, her son, Cameron, and her daughters, Michelle and Kelly, sister, Mary, and brother Douglas, as well as 7 beautiful grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, Douglas and Mary Ellen, and her sister Terry, and Terry's husband, David.
Funeral Services will be held on Monday, 12 January, at 10:30 am at the Valley Center Ward building, 14826 Fruitvale Rd, Valley Center, CA, where a Viewing will be held prior from 10:00 to 10:30 am. Following the services, interment will be at the Valley Center Cemetery, 28953 Miller Rd, Valley Center, CA.
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