Patricia Bushman-Nelles

Patricia Jeanne Bushman-Nelles Ojai, CA Patricia Jeanne Bushman-Nelles of Ojai died Friday from a long illness. She is survived by her husband Duncan; beloved daughters and son Bonnie Patton, Lynn Wolfe, and Bridgette Lerma all of Ojai, and James Bushman and Patty Gomes of Fresno, CA; step-daughter Sandy Nelles; 11 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Pat was born in Pasadena, California in 1928 to Michael and Louise McGee. She spent her early youth in Pasadena and in Twenty-Nine Palms. Upon the death of her mother, she moved to Spokane, Washington to live with her sister, Helen Fuller. She graduated from Marycliff High School and then returned to Pasadena to attend PCC. There, through her affiliation with the Newman Center, she met and married the love of her life Chuck Bushman in 1950. They brought their young family to Ojai, California in 1956. Chuck became a builder in the growing town, and Pat a homemaker who loved to cook and entertain - her theme parties were famous. Her community involvement in the Girl Scouts, the County Fair, as a co-founder of the Fourth of July Parade, and as a devoted parishioner of St.Thomas Aquinas Church was her passion. Her delight was in traveling the world and introducing the joys of travel to her scouts and her own children. Switzerland, the home of her exchange student “daughter” Barbie Eckmann, was a frequent destination. When her dear husband Chuck passed away in 1979 Pat was devastated. But she picked herself up and went into real estate. She also established a bed-n-breakfast at her home where she loved meeting visitors to Ojai. She and Hugh McBride married briefly and traveled the U.S. together before he passed away. Pat was charming, curious, and adventurous. She loved life, laughter, and meeting new people - and when she met Duncan Nelles again forty-five years after they had met in high school, they decided to marry in 1993. He has been the second love of her life, a wonderful husband, dear friend, dancing partner, and fellow travel adventurer. Together they continued on her quest to see every country in the world. He was devoted to her to the end. Assisting the family with funeral arrangements is Ojai Valley Funeral Services 805-640-3600