Patty Ann Spain was born the eldest of five children to parents Charles and Helen Spain in Olympia, WA. Patty grew up in the Tumwater/Black Lake area surrounded by her siblings, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. She enjoyed swimming, camping, reading, and singing around the piano with her family, where she spent most of her childhood.
Patty married David "Dave" McLaughlin in 1964. She moved to San Diego, CA, where they lived while Dave was in the Navy. Patty gave birth to Lisa in 1966, then moved back to the Olympia area before giving birth to David Jr. in 1967. Her family was complete in 1970 when Michele was born.
Patty was the consummate homemaker; she made great meals and candy, was an excellent seamstress, and was abundantly creative, making Christmas gifts for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Patty was talented in endless ways. She bred, showed, and trained Dobermans, taking on the task in the 1970s when there were few female breeders, showmen, and Schutzhund trainers. Patty was also a self-taught artist. She honed her artistic and teaching skills by extending her time to family, friends, and strangers through art lessons. Patty was a prolific artist who produced over 100 paintings, drawings, and renderings. She had a passion for art and for creating beautiful/meaningful things. Her love for art never wavered even when she could barely see and hardly hold a brush. She completed her last painting, a watercolor of a chicken (for her niece), within the last week of her passing.
Patty constantly gave her time, money, and talents to others. She often stayed several hours after a shift to give coworkers a ride home, she would make food for and set up work parties even after a full day's work, she would pay for strangers’ groceries on a whim and has given her RV to a nephew when he was homeless. Her spirit of putting others first and her generosity exemplify the trajectory of her life.
Patty loved her family. She was blessed to have three younger sisters and a baby brother who idolized her, and she adored them. From birth her love and dedication to them was profound and it continued to her last day. They would rally in support of one another for childcare, life's frustrations, or just to shoot the breeze. Some of Patty's fondest memories were going to “scary” movies, in downtown Olympia with Nana Norrie (Patty’s Maternal Great-Grandmother). She also loved playing at her grandparent's (Delwyn and Anne Goldsby) house, climbing trees, eating Grandma's fresh homemade bread, and watching Grandpa and Aunt Mary singing around the piano. Patty's heart was broken in 1999 when her younger sister Kathy passed. Kathy's passing only served to help strengthen the bond between Patty and her remaining siblings. To her family was everything. She went to great lengths to ensure this was instilled in her children. Patty made certain they attended regular family gatherings, contributed when other family members needed help. and would frequently take her children and nieces and nephews camping, swimming, and adventuring. To say she was brave, was an understatement! Some might argue taking 10 children and two dogs camping by herself in the woods of Margaret McKinney was certifiable. Patty reveled in playing with, camping, and spending time with her three children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Patty enjoyed taking care of her kids but life with three kids was expensive so, in 1976 she began working for the state in the Buildings and Grounds division and then in the Governor's Mansion under Governor Spellman in 1981. Not long after that Patty joined Dave, her father-in-law Phil, and Phil's Brother, Donny McLaughlin in working at the Olympia Brewing Company. Patty worked at the Brewery for 23 years until the plant closed around 2002. Not long after that Patty worked in the family wine store around 2005-2006.
Patty loved to travel. She would frequently visit her children wherever they were living, like visiting Lisa in California, Florida, and Virginia (while Lisa's husband was in the Navy) and visited Dave Jr. in South Carolina and Virginia while he was in the Navy. She loved traveling so much she bought a 44-foot RV, learned to drive it and learned to drive a moped. She set off across the country, with just her dogs and her RV. Later she downsized and bought a 12-foot Pleasure Way Camper Van, which her mother Helen named "Jezebel." Patty and Jezebel enjoyed frequent trips to the beach, to Florida to visit her sister, Ginny, and to California to visit Michele while she was stationed at March AFB. Patty’s last trip was in July 2024 when she and daughter Lisa drove from Alabama to Virginia to see her Granddaughter Katy, Great-grandson Jackson, and Great-granddaughter Aubrey. Having a spa-day and high tea with Katy and Aubrey, was all Patty could talk about for weeks!
In April 2022, Patty moved to Alabama to live with her youngest daughter. Patty was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in March of 2024 and on September 18th, 2024, she passed peacefully in her home surrounded by her children, granddaughter, son-in-law, and dogs. Patty is preceded in death by her father Charles "Chuck" Spain, 9-15-1997, her sister Kathy McLaughlin, 12-28-1999, and her mother Helen Spain, 12-9-2018.
Though Patty is no longer physically with us we know she will live on in our hearts forever!
A Celebration of Life will be held at South Union Grange at 10030 Tilley Rd. SW, Olympia, WA 98512 on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
