Janet Palmquist Patterson

Jan Patterson, 71, died January 27 of lung cancer in Dallas. Jan is survived by husband of 50 years, former State District Judge Jay Patterson, daughter, Betsy Gustafson, son-in-law, Tory Gustafson, son, Jamie, daughter-in-law, Julie Patterson, and grandchildren, Cole and Claire Gustafson and McCoy and Mitchell Patterson. She is also survived by brothers and sisters-in-law, Bill and Chris Patterson, Dave and Cynthia Patterson and Scott Patterson; sisters and brothers-in-law, Susan and Tom Bussey, Martha and Tom Hardebeck and Megan Standing, and brother and sisters, Jim Cookman (and his wife, Adlita), Elizabeth Pletcher (and her husband, Steven) and Millie Frick (and her husband, Bill). Jan was much loved by family and friends. The family is confident that she is now in Paradise with Christ and gain great comfort from that. She was blessed with a loving family and especially enjoyed her role as "Nanny" to her grandchildren. Jan's faith grew rapidly during her years in Bible Study Fellowship. Jan's heart was also in the Daughters of the King of St. John's Episcopal Church who she loved and with her St. John's family who did so much for her during her illness. Even during her illness she ministered and comforted other ladies she loved so much at St. John's Church and in the Lake Highlands neighborhood. Jan received a BS Degree from the University of Nebraska and also attended Beloit College. She lettered in swimming at Beloit. She worked as a teacher in Dallas to put Jay through SMU law school and then became a full time mother and homemaker and later a political consultant. Jan and Jay met at age 15 in homeroom at Sleepy Hollow H.S. in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., and fell in love. She served on the Dallas Plan Commission, chaired the Texas Board on Aging and served as a member of the Dallas Health and Human Services Commission, the Dallas County Youth Services Board, the Women's Council of Dallas County, attended the White House Conference on Aging as a delegate in 1995 and served as a delegate to the White House Conference on Families in 1980. She was a member of Lake Highlands Women's League. One of her joys was her Delta Gamma Fraternity sisters who she played bridge with monthly. Jan served as President of the Texas Federation of Republican Women (TFRW), 1990-91 and served as President of the Dallas County Council of Republican Women's Clubs, President of the Lake Highlands Republican Women's Club and received the TFRW Ten Outstanding Award in 1985. She also served as an Alternate Delegate to the 1992 Republican National Convention. A memorial service will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church, 848 Harter Road, Dallas, at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, February 14. Inurnment is planned at the DFW National Cemetery, Lane B, at 10:15 a.m., Monday, February 16. In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate gifts in Jan's memory to White Rock Center of Hope or St. John's Episcopal Church.