Mark "Phat" Lamont Patterson

Mark attended John Burroughs Junior High School in Los Angeles. Mark worked during the summer for the Los Angeles Board of Education at the tender age of sixteen. He graduated from Fairfax Senior High School with high honors and worked full-time for the school board while furthering his education at West Los Angeles College.

Mark moved to Reno, Nevada to be near his family and attended Truckee Meadow College where he obtained an Associate Degree in Communications and Music. He also worked full-time for the School Board of Reno, Nevada.

He developed a love to mentor others and help the less fortunate through the job core and later worked for the State of Nevada as a mental health counselor. Mark then returned to his true love, music, which began at age 15 during a summer vacation in the 1980’s; spinning records and rapping with his cousin in Brooklyn, New York. He came to be known as "Phat" and produced many artists in the Las Vegas area. He continued his music career with his dear friend, Booker T. Shank under Suave Entertainment, producing throughout the Los Angeles area. He had been writing and recording until his passing on January 4, 2018.

Mark is survived by his parents, Cheryl and Gregory Polard and Arnett and Sharyn Patterson; three brothers, Shawn Patterson, Samuel Swayzer Patterson and Paul Dunbar; a cousin who he thought of as a brother, Duane Mabson; two sisters, Nesha Patterson and Shayna Dorsey; and a brother-in-law Major Hamilton Dorsey.

He is also survived by Aunts: Norma Angelle Hickes, Patrice Armbrister, Elaine Steadman and a great aunt Ruby Lee Farmer. Nieces and Nephews: Imani Patterson, Kendra Patterson, Dominique Patterson and Danielle Patterson; Sean Patterson, Amir Patterson, Kiara, Sydni, Chase and Kyle Swayzer, Cheyne, Xavier, Ceara, and Colin Dorsey of whom he loved dearly. And a host of family and friends throughout Las Vegas and the greater Los Angeles area.