Patricia S Caplan

Patricia Setzer Caplan passed away peacefully, ending an era, in her own bed on August 31,

2021 after a long fought battle with Parkinson’s disease. As she liked to do things her own way,

she passed alone with family and friends trying to get to her side. She was born in Old Fort, NC

to Corene and Elmer Setzer on April 1, 1938, the eldest and only girl of her siblings. Raised by

her sweet mother, Pat had a passion for fashion, especially clothes and jewelry. Anyone that

knew her knows that was a wildly amusing understatement! As a young girl, she would work for

spending money and buy fabric and patterns to make her own clothes as we have proof from an

original receipt with her childhood name of Patsy on the top. (A spool of thread was 10 cents.)

She was a fastidious bookkeeper and kept every correspondence and owner’s manual, original

shoe boxes and tags and could put her hands on it if she needed it. Pat had a beautiful mind, a

gentle soul and an exuberant spirit.

She and her husband, Marley Caplan, began a cross country trip to California but when stopped

in Las Vegas; decided to call it home. They moved there when it had a population of 50+

thousand, the city was 25 square miles and the Flamingo was a one story casino with street

parking on the Strip! Pat remembered walking through construction at the Hilton to put in an

application for a job. She met Frank Sinatra, Mr. Las Vegas - Wayne Newton and Donny and

Marie to name a few. She lived in the same house less than 4 miles from the Strip that was built

for them from 1962 to 2017! They began a souvenir business that supplied casinos, stores and

even the Hoover Dam gift shop with their wares. They successfully worked hand in hand, side

by side until Marley passed in 2005. Pat kept the business running for a few special clients until

her retirement.

Pat enjoyed traveling around the Southwest and always loved showing family and friends to all

the sights and sounds of Las Vegas and surrounding area. She loved showing guests the

newest and latest casinos once they were built. The Bellagio Conservatory was always fun

because they changed it with the seasons and holidays. Lake Mead, the Grand Canyon, and

The Hoover Dam were favorite places to share with visitors. She could play penny slots and

video poker for hours on $5 dollars and hopefully bring home $6! Buffets with crab legs, going

to shows and shopping were her favorite activities.

Pat was preceded in death by her mother and father, her husband of 44 years, and a dear

brother, Harold Setzer. She is survived by an aunt, Thurlene Hogan and a brother, David

Setzer, both of Old Fort, a brother and sister-in-law, Rick and Diane Setzer of Hickory, NC,

many cousins and numerous nieces and nephews and their children.

A special thank you to Pat’s neighbor, Joe Deyro, for keeping his promise to take care of her for

the rest of her life after Marley died. He and his partners, Bob Harris and John Shiffler, made

her life so much richer by taking her on trips and always including her in family functions. It was

because of them, that she was able to fulfill her wish to live out her days in Las Vegas, a place

that she called home.

Pat reluctantly went to Oakmont Retirement Community in 2017 but gratefully found life there to

be easier and exciting with entertainment every afternoon, meals provided daily (having

breakfast served all day cinched the deal) and meeting new friends. We wish to thank all the

caregivers that loved our Pat for years. CompassionCare was an invaluable asset to Pat’s care

at the end of her life. Although she was diagnosed by hospice to have less than 6 months to

live, she beat those odds for nearly one and a half more years!

A graveside service will be held at Oakwood Cemetery in Hickory, NC at a later date with her

dear friend, Minister John Shiffler officiating. Memorials may be made to CompassionCare of

Las Vegas 7842 W Sahara Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89117.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmcheyenne.com for the Caplan family.