Dean Patterson's Obituary
Dean Arden Patterson, Sr., son of Alfred W. ?Bud? and Ressie Ivey Fletcher Patterson, was born August 31, 1924, near Winnipeg, Missouri. He departed this life Thursday, December 1, 2011, in Cox Medical Center South, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of eighty-seven years, and three months.
On March 4, 1947, he was united in marriage to Ramona Marilyn Kinnaird, and to this union five daughters and two sons were born.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marilyn, on May 1, 2010; an infant son, Michael Dean Patterson; a brother, Jake Patterson; and a sister, Clella ?Pat? Woody.
Dean is survived by a son, D. Arden Patterson, and his wife, Stacy, of Lebanon, Missouri; five daughters, Donna McNiel, and her husband, Conley, Debbie Tracy, and her husband, Dean, all of Lynchburg, Missouri, Karen Sutlief, and her husband, Dan, of Amarillo, Texas, Kim Dick, and her husband, Gene, of Norman, Oklahoma, and Susan Patterson, and her husband, Lubo Atanasov, of Springfield, Missouri; thirteen grandchildren, Cody, Landon, Kelli, Kari, Kristi, Clint, Jami, Nathan, Bailey, Genevieve, Katherine, Isabella, and Viviene; fourteen great-grandchildren, Levi, Tylor, Cole, Lexi, Logan, Brody, Caylor, Joel, Marshall, Kelsey, Bryce, Kinsley, Tanner, and Emma; a brother, Clell Patterson, and his wife, Judith, of Mountain Grove, Missouri; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
He was born and raised in the Winnipeg community, and attended Nelson School and Lebanon High School. He entered the United States Army as a young man, and served his country faithfully during World War II. He was part of the unit that was involved in freeing the concentration camps. After being honorably discharged from the Army, he returned to the Lebanon area, and he and Marilyn lovingly raised their family. Dean worked as a carpenter and helped in the building of Fort Leonard Wood. He managed the Army/Air Force Exchange, which included the cafeteria and steak house, for a number of years. He then drove a truck for the Coca-Cola Company. Later, he worked as a Civil Service employee at the Fort commissary and hospital. Throughout the years, he also owned and operated a farm.
Dean had professed his faith in Christ and was a charter member of Mount Carney Christian Church. He had taught the teenage Sunday school class, worked at Vacation Bible School, went on youth trips, and showed the boys how to do crafts and woodworking projects. He never went to church alone, and was always transporting neighborhood children to services.
In his spare time he enjoyed caring for the farm, and spending time visiting with his friends. He was well liked and had made many good friends over the years. He was quite the storyteller and also enjoyed playing practical jokes on people. His family was important to him and he especially enjoyed his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Dean was a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and will remember him as a devoted family man, a dedicated worker, a Christian leader, and a true patriot in every sense of the word.
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