Patricia A. Tesi

Patricia Ann Taylor Mehrten-Dailey-Tesi, 89, of Gloversville, passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord on October 19, 2025, at Mountain Valley Hospice, surrounded by love. A woman of fierce independence, quick wit, and steadfast faith, Patricia lived her life in full color — strong-willed, spirited, and forever ready for good company, good conversation, and a little good-natured debate. She never took a kindness for granted — if you helped her, she’d repay it tenfold, because that was her way: love was free, but effort always mattered. Born on November 14, 1935, in Barnsdall, Oklahoma, to Vernon Norman Taylor and Mabel Lucille McCain, Patricia spent her early years in Oklahoma and California, graduating from Sonora Union High School in 1953. During her high school years, she was an active and proud participant in many sports and social clubs, known for her school spirit and outgoing nature. She joined the United States Navy in 1954, proudly serving during a period when few women chose that path. Her time in uniform reflected the same courage, curiosity, and sense of purpose that carried her through the rest of her life. Stationed at several bases across the country — most notably in Kingsville, Texas — she formed lifelong friendships and was known for her humor, dedication, and quick wit among her fellow service members. After completing her service, Patricia transitioned to civilian life and worked for Hughes Aircraft, where she held a Secret Security Clearance — a testament to her intelligence, reliability, and strong moral character. She went on to earn her Associate of Arts degree from San Luis Obispo Junior College in 1959. Her studies also took her to Texas College of Arts and Industries in Kingsville and California Polytechnic College in San Luis Obispo, where she pursued coursework in biology and general botany. In 1972, Patricia moved to Gloversville, New York, where she built her life and community. Over more than 30 years with Fulton County — in the Board of Supervisors Office, the Sheriff’s Office, and Family Court — she became a trusted colleague and friend to countless people. Patricia’s faith guided her every step. Raised Catholic, she later found her home in the Pentecostal church and was proud to be born again. She lived her beliefs openly, encouraging those she loved to find faith of their own so that, as she often said without quite saying, “we could be together again.” She was married three times and widowed twice — first to John Mehrten, with whom she shared her beloved daughter, the late Leslie Ann Mehrten Havens; then to Lou Dailey, who passed in 1989; and finally, to Michael Tesi, who passed in 2019. Through every season of her life, she carried herself with strength, grace, and humor — a true stoic, the first to volunteer when there was work to be done, the last to complain. She was the steadfast caretaker, nurse, and wife to both Lou and Mike, tending to them hand and foot through their illnesses with unwavering love and devotion. Patricia was gregarious and magnetic, the kind of woman who could turn an ordinary afternoon into a lively gathering. “Holding court” came naturally to her — at home, at coffee hour, or wherever friends gathered to talk about everything and nothing all at once. Her kitchen table was a fixture in the lives of many, often surrounded by friends, laughter, and the aroma of something sweet cooling on the counter. She adored coffee, conversation, and dessert — especially Klondike bars, German chocolate cake, and anything homemade and shared. An artist in her own right, she painted in both acrylics and oils, sculpted with clay, and cherished the arts in all forms. She loved to travel and spoke fondly of her time in Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and California, forever drawn to the warmth and spirit of the Southwest. She delighted in birds, bright colors, tamales, Tex-Mex, and Mug Root Beer — a mix as eclectic and genuine as she was. Her home reflected her heart: filled with knick-knacks, scrapbooks, books, and the hum of life — the kind of place where the biscuit tin held buttons and the welcome never ran out. Patricia leaves behind her loving granddaughter Caela Havens and her husband Seth Weeden, along with her son-in-law Glenn Havens. She is also survived by dear friends Sally, Kathy, Joan, and Linda, and a wide circle of extended family and friends whose lives she enriched with her humor, faith, and kindness. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Leslie Ann Mehrten Havens, and husbands Lou Dailey and Michael Tesi. Patricia will be cremated in accordance with her wishes. The family extends their sincere gratitude to the staff of Mountain Valley Hospice for their gentle care, compassion, and the exceptional quality of their nurses. A private celebration of life will be held at a later date. She was — and will always be — the lovely matriarch of her family, loyal friend to many, and a woman who believed in you no matter what. May she rest peacefully, surrounded by those she loved, in the eternal light of God’s kingdom.

Patricia A. Tesi

November 14, 1935 - October 19, 2025

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

Patricia A. Tesi

November 14, 1935 - October 19, 2025

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support