Patricia “Patty” Annette Mandrell, one of Chowchilla’s most valued treasures, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on August 27, while surrounded by her family. She was 78.
Patty was born on Jan. 26, 1947, in Madera to William and Ruby Walker. Her family soon included a little sister, Beverly. She grew up in the Dos Palos/Oro Loma area helping in the family grocery stores. As a child, she stood on a box so she would be tall enough to work the registers.
Patty graduated from Dos Palos High School in 1965. One of her treasured memories from high school was going with the high school band to Washington D.C. to march in Lyndon Johnson’s Inaugural Parade.