Shirley Rose Patterson

SHIRLEY ROSE SHUMWAY PATTERSON January 31, 1932 ~ May 28, 2017 Shirley passed away Sunday morning, May 28th, at her Gerber home with her husband, Shan and family by her side. Shirley was born at home in Las Flores to Myrtle Irene and Henry Grant Shumway, January 31, I 932. Shirley graduated from Gerber Elementary School and in 1949 from Red Bluff High School. She was very proud that four generations of her family attended Gerber School. Shirley first met Shannon when he galloped passed her house on horseback in pursuit of runaway cows, running under an olive branch and losing his hat. He turned back for the hat and said, "I will be back." Upon his return, he met the very pretty young lady that would later become his wife. On March 24, 1949, they married in the Baptist church in Gerber and later had two sons; David Shannon and Mark Steven. Shirley lived her entire life in Gerber. She and Shan ranched cattle, owned Patterson Answering Service and Antique Shop, and operated Western Union. Shirley also worked at Sprouse Reitz. She and Shan farmed walnuts and prunes as well as owned Patterson Water Company throughout their marriage. Shirley was a past member of the Emblem Club, Gerber Women's Club and Gerber Fire Department Auxiliary. In her spare time you could find her either sewing or planning to sew quilts to donate to children and the Veteran's Administration hospitals. Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, Myrtle Irene Stroing Elam Shumway and Henry Grant Shumway; sisters, Violet Ellen Cofer, Lorene Harriet Fries and brothers, John Delbert and Robert Gale Elam. She is survived by her husband, Shannon Patterson; sons, David Shannon and his wife, Chris; and Mark Steven; granddaughter, Amy Woods, grandson, Eric Patterson and his wife, Carrie; great-grandchildren, Jakob Edward and his fiancé Jacqueline and Zackary Steven Woods, Jacob Eugene, Christopher Eric, and Daniel Mark Patterson as well as many nieces and nephews, both greats and grands. Shirley will be greatly missed by her loving family and friends.