Emily Ann Patchen

Emily Ann Patchen, beloved daughter of God, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus on March 21st at the age of 88. Emily walked boldly along the path of life trusting confidently in Jesus who never let go of her hand.

Born in Gladewater, Texas, on July 2, 1936, Emily was the daughter of the late Jess Everett Jones and Mabel Hallie (Echols) Jones. She grew up in Mount Pleasant, Texas before moving to Mount Pleasant, Michigan, where her brother Charles joined the family in 1942. Ten years later in 1946, her sister Jennifer joined the family while they lived in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Emily moved frequently in her youth as the family followed her father’s different job assignments in the oil refinery business. Her mother, Mabel, was a nurse who worked in hospitals and clinics in the various places they lived. Emily had to unexpectedly take on many additional family responsibilities during her middle and high school years when her mother started developing serious health problems. She began shopping for the family, caring for her siblings, and doing other daily chores to help manage the home.

There’s no question that such early demands on her life taught her to be hard-working, creative, and to develop a gracious nature when facing adversity. Emily learned to manage and maintain the family home, and she learned how to gather support from neighbors and friends along the way; especially when she felt like “The Regiment” (her ever-present younger brother and sister) were wearing her out! She flowered and responded to these family challenges, even when the journey got tough and tears fell.

Emily successfully graduated from Ardmore High School in 1954. Next to her senior picture is inscribed, “A cute sense of humor with a ready laugh and a ready blush; admired by all who know her.”

After high school, Emily attended Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma where her father worked as the superintendent of the Champlin Oil Refining Company. It was at Phillips University that she met and later married her life-long husband Charles A. Patchen on June 2, 1957 at University Place Christian Church in Enid. Thus beginning an amazing journey of life and love through 67 years of marriage.

After graduating from Philips in 1958 with a degree in Elementary and Physical Education, Emily began her career teaching second grade at Bruce Shulkey Elementary School in Fort Worth, Texas, while Charlie attended Brite Divinity School at TCU. During that time Emily and Charlie welcomed their first child; Brett Dean, born on May 18, 1960.

Charlie graduated from divinity school, becoming an ordained minister on June 4th, 1961. One month later, Emily, Charlie, and son Brett moved to Alamosa, Colorado where they began their first pastoral ministry at the First Christian Church in Alamosa. Emily worked as a substitute teacher in Alamosa until daughter, Kimberly Ann, was born October 13, 1961. Their second son, Charles Adrian, “Chuck,” was born a year later on October 14, 1962. Emily’s work ethic and grace were called upon once again, along with her creativity, to care for three small children and serve as a young pastor’s wife. True to her name, Emily Ann, which means – hard working grace – she showed up and always gave her best; even when exhausted.

In 1965, Emily and Charlie answered the call to move to Fort Collins, Colorado with their young family to minister at First Christian Church on North College Avenue in downtown Fort Collins. Emily began serving in Ladies Circle, Sunday school classes, kitchen work, and helped with Showers of all kinds. She sang in the choir, and hosted gatherings at her home on Killdeer Drive in South Meadowlark Heights. On October 9, 1970, Emily and Charlie welcomed their fourth child, Joel Thomas. Joel’s arrival caused Emily to miss the Disciples of Christ International Church Convention in Australia that year, so her first son Brett got to travel in her place. Joel was forever, humorously nicknamed, “Sydney Brisbane,” by the family doctor, Robert Pike, for this coincidence.

The 70’s were a whirlwind of activity and blessings in the Patchen household, not the least of which was the tremendous growth of the First Christian Church from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. During that time, Emily earned her M.A. in Psychology Counseling and Guidance for Elementary School Counselors at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. After graduating, she was hired as a Title 1 Reading Interventionist at the old Dunn-Washington Elementary School, which is today known as CSU’s Early Childhood Center. In 1975-1976 Emily taught in Santa Barbara, California as a reading specialist while Charlie engaged in a year of sabbatical study. Emily loved the nearby beaches of Santa Barbara and also taking weekend trips with her family to visit many interesting places in California. When the family returned to Fort Collins in the summer of 1976, Emily continued her teaching and counseling career with the Poudre R1 School District while Charlie resumed pastoring at First Christian Church and overseeing the completion of a second church building project that would become the Healing Place.

Quickly, they watched Brett, Kimberly, and Chuck all graduate from Rocky Mountain High School and move on to college, travel, and careers. Joel was just beginning his formative school years after completing kindergarten in Santa Barbara. Emily was again working as a reading teacher at Dunn-Washington and Moore Elementary schools, and later served as the main guidance counselor at Moore Elementary until she retired in June of 2000. In all, she completed twenty-six years of service.

Throughout her teaching career, Emily demonstrated a unique gift with children, students, and parents of all ages. She mentored student teachers and other counselors that passed through and served in the district. She was passionate about learning and gained a great wealth of knowledge from her colleagues, administrators, and friends serving at other Ft. Collins campuses. Emily was concerned about educating the whole child, and she cared about all the children who passed through the doors of her classroom. Her passion and giftedness made a difference, not only in her students' lives but also in the lives of countless colleagues, parents, families, and community members who were touched by her dedication and care. Emily will forever be remembered for offering many special classes where she used puppets, books, media, art, animals, and nature, to open hearts, create dialogue, and foster a love of learning.

Emily also held grief groups, divorce groups, friendship groups, personal safety and awareness groups, hygiene groups, character groups, and groups for anyone struggling with anxiety, depression, grief and loss, and groups with learning disabilities and challenges. She often prayed with her students and colleagues, encouraging them in, “Best Practices.” She was a critical member on school staffings, placements, and special-education teams. Emily often served as a test coordinator or facilitator for school records and documents that were passed to the middle schools. She worked directly with school principals on many occasions and supported school events and projects; especially those involving holidays and outreach in the community.

In addition to Emily’s career, church life, and raising her family, she enjoyed walks, bike rides, singing, and participating in her kids' music and sporting events. Emily loved to play games and was quite competitive. She was a good cook, too. She loved flowers and working in her flower beds. Emily and Charlie enjoyed going to the movies, plays, community events, and surprise outings. She also helped in Boy Scouts, Pioneer Girls, 4-H, and volunteered in her kids’ classrooms.

She and Charlie enjoyed travel, spending time in the mountains, fishing and camping, sailing, snow skiing and inner tubing. In retirement, Emily and Charlie were able to build their dream home in Windsor, Colorado. They cherished their beautiful mountain view with space to host, family, friends, and visitors to northern Colorado whenever they came.

Another thing Emily greatly loved was helping her children welcome their own children into the world. She and Charlie delighted in each new grandchild, all 13 of them! Before she died, Emily was wonderfully blessed to hold her first great grandchild in her arms; Eden Dorthea Marks, born February 6, 2025, to granddaughter Abby and son-in-law Andrew Mark.

Emily and Charlie enjoyed themselves as long as possible in retirement, enjoying the fruits of their labors after serving and working for so many years. In addition to their many activities, they were blessed to be able to spend time with their aging parents and help them before they passed away and before they themselves entered into the chapter of their own declining health.

Upon reaching their mid 80’s, Emily and Charlie found themselves in need of more care and supervision from family. They decided to move to Colorado Springs to be with their son Joel and his wife Michelle. Joel, Michelle, and their children diligently cared for Grandma and Grandpa until their health challenges necessitated moving into a memory care home where they lived out their final days close to the Garden of the Gods in view of the beautiful Colorado Springs mountains.

Emily is survived by her four children and their spouse’s. Brett and Da Patchen of Boise, Idaho. Kim and Dennis Black of Taylors, South Carolina. Chuck and Susan Patchen of Fort Collins, Colorado. Joel and Michelle Patchen of Colorado Springs, CO. Emily also leaves behind her brother, Charles Jones of Enid Oklahoma, her sister, Jennifer Jones of Oklahoma, City, Oklahoma. 12 grandchildren, one great grandchild, Great Aunt Jan Allard, along with her nieces, a nephew, and cousins.

Emily was preceded in death by her parents, Jess Everett and Mabel Jones, her husband, Charles Patchen, her brother-in-law, Gary Dean Patchen and her infant granddaughter, Brooke Anna Vaughn Patchen.

Thanks be to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who does all things well. Emily Ann lived a beautiful and wondrous life! We’ll miss her smile, her voice, her many kindnesses, but always cherish her dreams for our lives and her love toward everyone. You’re forever in our hearts mom!

A Celebration of Life service for Emily Patchen will be held at Antioch Community Church, 608 East Drake Road in Fort Collins, Colorado, Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 2:00 PM. Doors will open at 1:30 PM. The interment will be April 7, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Olinger Crown Hill Cemetery, 7777 West 29th Avenue, Wheatridge, Colorado.

Video Streaming will be available for those unable to attend in person on Saturday, April 5th at 2:00 PM. The Celebration of Life service will be streamed live on the Antioch Community Church Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@antiochfortcollins3224/streams

In lieu of donations for flowers or other funeral costs, we encourage those who would like to give a donation to give to one of Emily’s favorite causes: finding a cure for dementia and Alzheimers, rheumatoid arthritis research, money to needy kids for education, or the NICU Unit at Children’s hospital in Colorado. Donation boxes will be at the service for those who would like to give.