In Loving Memory of Leslie Patterson Tankersley My Grandmother
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Leslie Patterson Tankersley was born March 23rd, 1923 to Floyd and Barbara Patterson. She departed this life committed to the Hands of the Lord January 30, 2022 at the age of 98 at Eden Valley Care Center in Soledad where she had been a resident for 21/2 years.
Leslie was born in Lockwood, California in the front bedroom of her grandmother\\u2019s house \\u201cacross from the cow pasture\\u201d as she described it. Three years later she was joined by a brother, Lester. At age 5 she started second grade at San Antonio Elementary school having been taught to read by her Aunt Jettie prior to starting school.
Leslie\\u2019s family worked extremely hard at dry farming and raising livestock. Growing up during the depression, she spoke of how the whole family worked at raising chickens and pigs and that they ate better than the average family. Leslie\\u2019s father Floyd milked several cows twice a day, planted and harvested grain, did the work of a blacksmith and was a barber for many in the valley. Her mother Barbara was also respected in the Ag Business community. Leslie and her brother Lester helped with the operation of the grain harvester as well as many other tasks around the farm.
Leslie attended and graduated from King City High School where she first met Drury, the love of her life. After graduating from high school Leslie attended and graduated from San Luis Obispo Junior College where she was very involved in clubs and activities.
On June 14th, 1942 Leslie married Drury Tankersley. She and Drury had six children, Drury Richard Jr., John, Mike, Anne, Bill and Tom. She was an extremely devoted mother to her children, grand and great grandchildren. She was active in PTA, she taught Sunday school at the Methodist Church. She saw to it that each of her children had piano lessons and played in the school band. Most of the family years were spent on their small farm on Orchard Lane in Soledad where they had an almond orchard. The livestock ranged from guinea pigs to horses and just about everything in between.
Leslie made most of her own dresses as well as many items for her children. She made curtains and upholstered furniture, painted, wall-papered and gardened. She knitted beautiful sweaters. She made many sweaters for her children and grandchildren as well as for others. She ordered wool from Ireland for her amazing \\u201cIrish fisherman sweaters\\u201d with patterns of cables and diamonds and popcorn.
In 1969 Drury and Leslie opened Soledad Hardware and Lumber Co. Leslie worked at the store for 50 years. She was dearly loved by all who worked there. Many friends and family would go there just to see Leslie. Often she could be spotted listening to someone\\u2019s troubles and praying for them. She was lovingly told she needed a booth for counseling like Lucy from the Peanuts cartoon.
She had a beautiful gift shop that hosted wedding registries. Her skill in gift wrapping was unmatched. She was one classy lady. Linen, china, sterling silver, crystal and fresh flowers were her standards in entertaining. And how she loved to host a party!
After many years of being a hunter\\u2019s widow, an indebted Drury accompanied Leslie on an unforgettable trip to Europe. Leslie attended a women\\u2019s prayer conference in Scotland. They saw Ireland and traced Tankersley roots to Tankersley Parish in England. They brought back a photo and asked Larry Bell to do a painting of Tankersle
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