Mary Tom Patterson

Memorial services will be held 3:00p.m, Sunday, November 1, at Lake Shore United Methodist Church in Waco.

Mary was born June 25, 1924, in Knippa, Texas to Tom and Dell Stevens. She graduated from Bonham High School in 1941 and attended Draughn Business School in Dallas. While working as a secretary for Sun Oil Company in Dallas she met the love of her life, Harold (Pat) Patterson, at the pencil sharpener. They married in 1950 and moved to Odessa, Texas, in 1951.

After living in Odessa for 23 years, the “oil patch” took Mary and Pat to Corpus Christi, Midland, and Casper, Wyoming. They finally retired “back home” in Odessa where they enjoyed reconnecting with old friends and, as always, making many new ones. They have lived most recently in Waco, Texas, where they moved to be closer to family.

Mary held various secretarial positions through the years and briefly served as the administrator of the Children’s Clinic in Corpus Christi. She was active in the Methodist church, the Odessa Junior Service League, the Odessa Symphony Guild, the Casper Petroleum Club, and various other civic and charitable organizations. She was an avid bridge player, an expert seamstress, and a wonderful cook. She and Pat made many life-long friends wherever they lived. Mary’s biggest passion was her family. She was first and foremost a devoted wife, loving mother, and doting grandmother.

Mary is survived by Pat, her husband of 65 years; daughter, Camille Furtney and her husband Steve, of Cheyenne, Wyoming; son, David and his wife Patti, of Riesel; granddaughters, Meredith and Lauren Furtney, of Denver; granddaughter Stacey Phillips and her husband John, of Riesel; great-grandchildren Jaxen and Brysen Phillips of Riesel; great-grandchildren Novaleigh, Alyssa, and Blake Phillips of Mississippi; brother, Harold Stevens, of McKinney; and “adopted” granddaughter, Baylee Bennington and her parents, Lori and Wade Bennington, of Odessa.

She was preceded in death by her parents and granddaughter, Shawna (Patterson) Surratt.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements under the direction of Connally-Compton Funeral Directors, Waco, TX.