Patti Deardorff

Patricia Noel Neller Deardorff, died Wednesday, December 7th, 2016 with her family at her side after a year-long battle with cancer, and a brief stay at Serenity House in Santa Barbara.

Born in Madison, WI on July 31, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Dr. James Locke Neller and Patricia Christine Atcherson Neller. Patti came with her parents to California after her father's return from the Pacific Theater during World War II, where he was a surgeon for the US Navy. 

Patti and her two sisters, Shari and Leigh grew up in the Los Angeles area. After graduating Dorsey High School in Los Angeles, Patti attended UCLA where she pledged Kappa Alpha Theta, was a "Bruin Belle" and in 1956 was selected the "Sigma Nu White Rose Queen". Patti met her late husband William Winston (Bill) Deardorff, Jr. while at UCLA. They married in 1960 and lived in Newport Beach until transferring to Oxnard in 1966 with Bill's family farm then known as Deardorff-Jackson Company, now Deardorff Family Farms. In 1974 Patti and her family moved to Carpinteria where her three sons attended Carpinteria High School. Patti's home on Rincon Point was also a second home to many local surfers in the late 70's and early 80's. In 1986, after her divorce from Bill, Patti moved to Santa Barbara, residing in a little cottage on Valerio Street.

Patti was a gifted artist, practicing in many mediums. Patti's award winning art was exhibited in fine galleries in Ventura, Malibu, Montecito, Santa Barbara and Los Olivos from 1969 to 1990. After earning a degree in "Confluent Education" from UCSB in 1985, Patti worked as an art instructor for schools in Oxnard, Santa Barbara, Carpinteria and Santa Ynez. She also used her art as therapy while counseling Vietnam Veterans and working with the elderly. She will be remembered for her creative jewelry, pen and ink drawings, paintings, collage and most recently computer art, where her designs graced everything from wine bottle labels to magazines.

Patti is survived by her three sons: Scott Thomas and wife Leslie Holmes, James Durston and wife Susan Kieding and William Winston, III; her two sisters: Shari Beata Starrett and Leigh Locke and husband Wes Weesner; her sister and brother-in-law: Tom and Connie Deardorff; four grandchildren: Robert Briggs, Emma Victoria, William Dustin and Ella Lee. Memorial services will be held in Santa Barbara, January 15th at 2864 East Valley Road.

Memorial donations may be made to the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara or Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care.