A memorial service for Kenneth Dale Patterson of Guthrie is set for 2 p.m., on Tuesday at First United Methodist Church. He was born Feb. 13, 1947, to Carl and Goldie Patterson, joining sister Carlene in their home. He lived a storybook childhood in and around the family dairy farm near the banks of the Cimarron River.
He attended Hillside School for eight years, and graduated from Cushing High School in 1965. His parents taught him, mostly by example, to think of and do for others, and to work hard on the farm. His love for hunting, especially quail hunting, was passed down by his father.
After graduation, Kenny attended NEO at Miami, Okla., but returned home a year later to attend Oklahoma State University and compete on the college rodeo circuit. He also met Jimalea Patterson, a Cushing girl and OSU student. The Vietnam War was raging, though, and Kenny joined the National Guard. After Basic Training, Kenny returned to Cushing, OSU and Jimalea. They were married August 1, 1968.
Kenny worked at Kerr McGee Nuclear facility near Crescent and Jimalea finished school. The couple eventually moved to Guthrie where Jimalea began to teach. They bought an acreage and made Guthrie their home.
The year 1973 was important as the couple became parents to two children within weeks of each other. Bill and Aryn became the focus of the family. Children, work, school, and church all combined to make life full and busy.
After Kerr McGee, Kenny worked for Western Crude Oil in Cushing. As the company evolved through several corporate changes, he worked for them in different places and jobs, eventually moving to the company offices in downtown Oklahoma City. Along the way he made many lifelong friends. Kenny joined Environmental Management Inc. in 2002, where he worked for more than a dozen years, gaining even more treasured friends.
Later Kenny passed to his grandchildren his love of riding and hunting. He also loved to hunt and shoot with friends, and work with his beloved dogs.
Kenny died July 4, 2016. He is survived by Jimalea, his wife of 48 years, son Bill and wife Debbie, their children Patrick Patterson and wife Cordia, Randall James and wife Kendra, Jeff James and wife Hayde, and Stephany Cameron and husband Colin; daughter Aryn Gaskins and husband Mike, their daughter Ryan and son Korben, and great-grandchildren Paul and Ailey James; also niece Holly Tichenor and husband Joe, and nephew Jay Frisbie; also many other family members and numerous cherished friends.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to www.headforthecure.org.
Services are under the direction of Hayes Funeral Home. Friends and family may sign the online guestbook at hayesfh.com.