Elizabeth Patterson Boatner

Elizabeth (Beth) Lynn Patterson Boatner, 53, of Rainbow City, Alabama passed away at home on August 13, 2024, after a 3 year battle with cancer. Beth leaves behind a legacy of love, fun, and service. Born on October 6, 1970, to David Cartwright Patterson and Betty Padalino Patterson, Beth loved to brag about being originally from Tuscaloosa – home of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide.

After spending a few childhood years in Birmingham, Beth lived most of her childhood years in Decatur, Alabama, graduating from Decatur High School in 1988 (Go Red Raiders). In High School Beth was active in the drama club and was a cheerleader. She was proud to call Decatur home. She made so many life-long friends, and she loved driving her red Toyota MR-2 around town.

After graduating high school, Beth attended the University of Alabama and was in the Chi Omega Sorority. She majored in accounting and though she did not complete her degree, she did meet her future husband and continued to make friends and was always the life of the party.

In 1991 (August 31) Beth married the love of her life, Roger Boatner, in a beautiful ceremony at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Decatur. Moving to St. Petersburg, Florida, where Roger was employed, Beth began a career in service working for First Baptist Church – St. Petersburg as their publications secretary using her creativity to help promote services and events for the church. Together Beth and Roger moved to Gadsden, Alabama at the end of 1992 where Beth worked for First Baptist Church, Hokes Bluff (1 year) and then First Baptist Church, Gadsden ( 8 years) serving in publications and as financial secretary. After taking a few years off to raise her children (Nolan and Sydney), Beth went to work for the Gadsden City School Systems at Walnut Park Elementary before moving to Gadsden Middle School where she worked until she retired for medical reasons in June 2023. Beth loved working in the school office and loved the kids at her school. All Gadsden Middle students will tell you the most popular class at the school was being Mrs. Boatner’s Aid.

Beth’s passions extended beyond work as she was known for organizing parties and social events and was known by all her friends as the “fun one.” She loved to Travel and took trips to China, Spain, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Italy, Greece, Mexico. Beth loved the Beach and spent most of her summers in Pensacola Beach, Florida. Beth continued to love the University of Alabama and attended football, basketball, softball games and gymnastics regularly.

The most important thing in Beth’s life was her two children – Nolan and Sydney. She loved being active in their school events, sporting events, and education. But maybe her favorite thing was helping them both furnish and decorate their homes and helping them make their own homes and find their directions in life.

Beth was known by her friends and by the community for her welcoming smile and her fun laugh. Fun was the theme of her life although her serious side was quite remarkable too (especially to her family). Beth had a love for her pets and a love for giving special names – Rocky and Mr. T (movie reference) and Shep and Little Craig (reference tv show Southern Charm).

Beth was diagnosed with Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Cancer in March, 2021. She battled the cancer first at UAB, having surgery in the summer of 2021 to remove tumors that has spread to her liver. And then later MD Anderson hospital in Houston, Texas, where she had the Whipple Surgery in August 2023 to remove the pancreas tumor and several additional tumors on her liver. She fought hard and brave but the cancer again returned to her liver and caused her liver to fail.

Beth is predeceased by her father – David Cartwright Patterson and Uncle - Rawley Witten Patterson. Beth’s memory will live on with her surviving family – Her husband Roger Boatner (33 years of marriage this month), her son Nolan Ryan Boatner (27) and her daughter Sydney Ashbrook Boatner (25). Other surviving family members are her mother Betty Padalino Patterson, brother David Patterson, sister-in-law Tawney Patterson, and nephews Wright and Rawley; Uncle Roger Patterson (Cindy);Step-mother Pat Patterson Price, and step brothers Miller Evans, Robert Evans and Walker Evans; Brother-in-law Barry Boatner, sister-in-law Angie Boatner, nephews Clark (Meagan) and Dillon, great nephew Case and great niece Marcy; Godson Gregory (Tank) Collins; and special fairy-god-daughters Hayden Williams Brunson and Sydney Williams Murphy.

A service in celebration of Beth’s life will be held Saturday, August 17th at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church – Gadsden. Immediately following the service there will be visitation with the family and desserts (because Beth loved desserts).

Though gone from us now, and gone from this world, Beth’s memory and inspiration will carry on with us all. Her spirit of fun and her wonderful, beautiful smile will live with us forever.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to university of Alabama Alumni Association Scholarship – the Elizabeth Patterson Boatner for the love of Accounting Endowed Scholarship Fund (see code and instructions below)

• Scan the QR code

• Choose fund – select Alumni Affairs in first dropdown box; select Alumni General Fund Memorials from second dropdown

• Enter amount to give – make sure to select the EPB for the love of Accounting Endowed Scholarship”

• Choose gift options, select next and enter payment details.

The Etowah County Chapter of Alabama Alumni Association – c/o Wilbur Masters, 244 S 3rd Street, Gadsden Al 35901

Gadsden Middle School c/o the Gadsden City School System, 1026 Chestnut St, Gadsden, Al 35901