John Robert Patterson "JR"

John Robert Patterson (JR), 73, passed away peacefully on December 3, 2022 in Arizona City, AZ, with his best friend by his side, his wife of 53 years. He was a loving, kind, and hard-working husband, dad, “PaPa”, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend who enjoyed family, helping others, traveling, and living life to its fullest.

JR was born on November 7, 1949 in Hickory Valley Tennessee to Buster & Addie Lou Hammons Patterson. He was the fifth born of six children who grew up working on a small family farm. He graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1968, where he played basketball and was captain of his team. He was an avid basketball fan of the Memphis Tigers, at the University of Memphis. JR met his wife, Patricia (Kay) Patterson in Nashville, TN while studying at the Nashville Auto Diesel School. He later worked at White Electric Co as an electrician prior to joining the Army in 1970. He was stationed in Fort Bragg, NC and Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, specialized in Signal Corps radio communications, served in the Vietnam War, and was honorably discharged in 1973.

After being discharged from the service, JR and Kay settled in Memphis, TN where he worked for a small security business startup, and later opened up his own business which he owned and retired from Matrix Alarm Company in 2016. During this time he and his wife Kay started a family with two children Shawn and Melissa “Missy” Patterson in Collierville, TN, whom attended Collierville Elementary, Middle, and High School. They loved family, arts, and traveling. There isn’t anything he wouldn’t do to support his family and create loving memories of a lifetime. JR will forever be remembered by his family as a strong, and gentle, and loving man who always supported his loved ones.

JR and Kay opened a small town arts and craft store on the Collierville Town Square, and dealt with antiques off and on throughout the years. They loved arts and being able to create with their hands. His garage was full of many, many tools where he enjoyed building things. He could do almost anything he set his mind to and this is one of many fond memories of JR. He also enjoyed traveling in the Smoky Mountains, in Gatlinburg TN and surrounding areas. So much, in 1984, they bought a small campground in the rural mountains of North Carolina. After his retirement he and his wife decided to take on a new journey to live out their traveling dreams. He purchased a motorhome and they traveled many roads across the beautiful USA. He found incredible joy in seeing new places. Some of his favorites were South Dakota, Wyoming, and Arizona where they fell in love with a small community of new friends later referred to as extended-family. Their words described JR as a kind person who would do anything to help others when needed. During his last days his children recall phone calls of excitement where he continually expressed enjoyment in many activities with their friends and living life to its fullest with no regrets.

He is survived by his wife Patricia (Kay) Patterson whom he married on July 18, 1969, his son Shawn Patterson (Colleen), his daughter Missy Patterson Roberts (Jon), and his brother Jerry Patterson (Shirley). He leaves behind 4 grandchildren – LCpl Roberts, Jonathan (Hunter), Conner Patterson, Chad Patterson, and Carter Patterson whom he adored more than words can describe. He also leaves behind extended family from Nashville TN and Hickory Valley TN. He will be deeply missed.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday December 21, 2022 from 10am-12noon at the Collierville Funeral Home located at 534 W. Poplar Ave, Collierville, TN 38017. JR will be laid to rest at the West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery in a private service and entombment for family and close friends, following visitation.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any memorial donations or contributions be made in JR Patterson's honor, to one of these organizations close to his heart; Shriners Hospitals for Children, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, American Heart Association, or St Jude Children's Research Hospital.

FAMILY

Patricia "Kay" Patterson-Wife

Shawn Patterson (Colleen)-Son

Melissa "Missy" Patterson Roberts (Jon)-Daughter

LCpl Roberts, Jonathan (Hunter)-Grandchild

Conner Patterson-Grandchild

Chad Patterson-Grandchild

Carter Patterson-Grandchild

He also leaves behind extended family from Nashville TN and Hickory Valley TN.

He was preceded in death by his parents Buster & Addie Lou Hammons Patterson, two sisters Bonnie Sue Cotton & Mary Ann Bryan, two brothers Billie Ray Patterson & Ronald Herbert Patterson.

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