Mary Ellen Patterson

Mary Ellen Patterson-Happel, age 89, passed away quietly on February 2, 2026, with family by her bedside. She was the oldest of four children born to Dale and Lucile (Fitzsimmons) Collins in Fremont, Michigan on April 16, 1936. Her mother was a Savings and Loan associate and her father was the CFO of the Gerber Corporation. Mary Ellen attended Central Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, and Western Michigan University where she majored in English, earned a teaching certificate, and received a master’s degree in literature. For over 25 years, Mary Ellen was a career educator who taught juniors and seniors at Sparta Senior High School. She taught courses in English grammar, composition, and creative writing along with classes in Greek and Roman mythology. Mary Ellen also taught French and chaperoned multiple summer trips to France with her language students. In addition, Mary Ellen was the high school’s yearbook editor and on multiple occasions named Teacher of the Year.

In 1956 she married Clifford “Skip” Patterson. They were married for 39 years until his passing in 1995. Together they were blessed with two wonderful sons, Robert (Bob) and Scott Patterson. During the summer months they enjoyed traveling together on business trips for Skip’s company, Seaway Time of Muskegon, Michigan, as well as additional trips in the US and abroad. When Skip became ill, Mary Ellen retired from teaching. In 1996 Mary Ellen met Dr. Richard “Dick” Happel at the Robinette Gift Barn where she worked as a specialty buyer. They were married at Fountain Street Church (FSC) in 1999. Before her passing, Mary Ellen and Dick shared over 26 years together. The two of them enjoyed traveling to Stratford, Canada to see plays, as well as Toronto and Quebec. They also took other trips to Ireland and southern France, as well as to Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean. Over the years, they also enjoyed following the progress of three Nepalese students whose education they sponsored through ANSWER Relief/Nepal.

Mary Ellen loved singing and at an early age became a soprano soloist coached by her mother, Lucile, who was a church organist. For many years she sang in a variety of groups and was active in the Calvin College Alumni Players (musical theater) in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. In 1997 she joined the Fountain Street Church Oratorio Choir, and this led to her membership in the FSC Adult Choir where she served as secretary and president of the choir board in the early 2000s. Mary Ellen loved singing in spring oratorios, hosting choir holiday parties and listening gatherings, and participating in FSC’s Christmas Eve candlelight service. She sang with the choir for 29 years.

Mary Ellen was an avid reader and for more than 15 years coordinated the women’s book club of the Cross Creek North Condominium Association. She loved hosting family celebrations and decorating her home accordingly. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and her great- grandchildren, as well as with her “adopted” granddaughter, Sharon Wu, a former accompanist for the FSC Adult Choir who became a part of the Patterson-Happel family. Family Christmas gatherings were exceptionally special for Mary Ellen, as were her cats and dogs, whom she loved dearly. Mary Ellen was a loving wife and committed mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and had many friends. She was a generous and caring soul, very inclusive of others. She will be deeply missed.

Mary Ellen is survived by: her husband Richard Happel; her sons, Bob Patterson (Norma) and Scott Patterson (Kimberly Bloom); her sister, Mabe Brown of Elizabethton, Tennessee; her brother, Milton Collins (Barb) of Osceola Wisconsin; her grandchildren Dannelle Lavallee (Greg) and great grand-children Charlotte and Evelynn Lavallee; grandson Christopher Patterson, grandson Jeremi Patterson (Stephanie) and great-granddaughter Jessika Patterson, and Jimmy, Mazielyne and Austin; Dick’s daughter Sara and husband Curt Hansen, plus their two children, Logan and Erica; also Mary Ellen and Dick’s “adopted” granddaughter Sharon Wu. Mary Ellen was preceded in death by parents Dale and Lucile Collins, first husband Clifford Patterson, and her sister Betty Wonderland. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary Ellen’s memory to any of her favorite charities. ANSWER Relief/ANSWER Nepal (which supports underprivileged youth with tuition scholarships in the country of Nepal), the Kids’ Food Basket in Grand Rapids, or a Humane Society of a person’s choice. A visitation time for family and friends will be available on Monday, February 9th from 12-2 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. There will be a Celebration of Life on Saturday, March 7th at Fountain Street Church at 3:30 p.m.