Mary Patterson

Mary Ann Patterson, 93 years old, died October 9th at the Parkmoor Village Health Care Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was born November 19, 1920 to Amos and Georgia Ann Pugh, Newtown, Kentucky.

Mary Ann Patterson was the eldest of six children. When she was 19, she learned that her mother was expecting her sixth child. Mary Ann was horrified. But when her brother, "Amos, Jr." was born, she fell in love with him. She took him everywhere she went. Because her baby brother could not pronounce her name, he called her "Dear." And this is the name the family still calls her. She is "Aunt Dear" to her nieces and nephews.

Mary Ann attended Kentucky State College where she pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, graduating in 1943. At Kentucky State she became friends with Alma Patterson who introduced her to her brother, Eugene Patterson. On December 4, 1943 she married Eugene W. Patterson. In 1947, Mary Ann, Eugene, and their infant daughter moved to North Chicago.

In the mid 1950's after a diligent study of the Bible, Mary Ann was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. She taught kindergarten for 30 years at Happy Day Nursery School and Children's Educational Center in Waukegan, Illinois

In 2004 on the very day her husband of 60 years died, Mary Ann was taken into the home of her son, Eugene and his wife, Selia. They lovingly cared for her every need. When Eugene and his wife moved to Colorado, Mary Ann wanted to go with them and she did. She lived with them until her failing health made it becessary for her to have constant care. She was placed in a facility in their city where they could make sure she would continue to be well treated.

Mary Ann is survived by one sister, Mrs. Rose Holman of Lexington, Kentucky; 3 children, Rozanne (Robert) Harnden of North Chicago, Eugene W. (Selia) Patterson, Jr., of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Steven (Wendy) Patterson of Zion, Illinois. Mary Ann is the grandmother of 12; the great grandmother of 27 and the great-great grandmother of 2 with one on the way.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Amos and Georgia Ann Pugh, brothers, James "Sonny" Pugh and Amos Pugh, Jr., sisters, Stella Coleman and Sarah Francis Pugh, a granddaughter, Heather Lawson, a grandson, Michael Patterson and two beloved nephews, Leland and Rodney Holman.

Everyone who knew Mary Ann Patterson liked her. Everyone who knew her well, loved her. She will be missed. We look forward to the day when Jehovah God will call her back to life.

Visitation, 10am-11am, Friday, October 17, 2014, with funeral service at 11am, Warren Funeral Home.