Geneva Patterson's Obituary
GENEVA PATTERSON January 3, 2018 Geneva Patterson was born on July 8, 1922 in Hackett, Arkansas. She was the fourth child of eight born to John Edward and Cora Bell Burnett. She was named Geneva Bell Burnett. Her nickname was Jimmie. Geneva graduated from Cleveland High School in Cleveland, Oklahoma. She and her sister Helen lived together and worked in Tulsa, Oklahoma after graduation. McDonnell-Douglas sent Geneva to New York City during WWII to a technical school where she learned to work on aircraft radios. She saw Frank Sinatra in concert during her six weeks stay in New York! After returning to Tulsa, she continued to work for McDonnell-Douglas. One day while working inside an airplane, Geneva met a handsome aircraft mechanic named James Owen (Pat) Patterson. They married and started a family in Tulsa. Geneva’s husband and children were so blessed to have her as their wife/mother. Geneva was very dedicated to her family. She was an excellent cook and spoiled us all with wonderful meals every day. Her home was always neat and clean. Geneva was a couture seamstress who made some of the most beautiful and perfect garments you can imagine. In 1964, Geneva moved with her husband and three children to Auburn, Nebraska. She made many wonderful friends in Auburn and was very involved with her church, Auburn Methodist Church. She enjoyed playing bridge with friends but was always home in time to cook dinner. When Geneva’s husband retired in 1981, they moved to Poteau, Oklahoma, near her husband’s childhood home. Once again, Geneva made herself useful by getting involved with the Methodist Church in Poteau and enjoying retirement with her husband. They loved to walk around on their 20 acres in the nearby countryside where they often had picnics and picked blackberries for her famous blackberry cobbler. They also had the opportunity to take some wonderful trips with other family members. The birth of her last grandchild in February 1989 helped ease the pain of losing her husband in April 1989. She continued to thrive and take care of herself, enjoying her children and grandchildren. Geneva lived independently until 2014 when she entered a nursing home in Oklahoma near her daughter. As always, she adjusted and made the best of things to the very end. Geneva is survived by her sister, Maxine Underwood of Tulsa, Oklahoma; sister-in-law, Helen Elaine Burnett of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; son, Jon Kirby Patterson of Blue Springs, Missouri; son, James Gary Patterson and daughter-in-law Vickie Patterson of Lincoln, Nebraska; daughter, Elizabeth Jane Montgomery and son-in-law Robert Montgomery of Tulsa, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Jodie Smith; Jon Patterson; Jason Patterson; Jeremy Patterson; Sara Johnson; Jim Patterson; Nathan Patterson; Nina Friedman; great-grandchildren, Austin, Hailey, Miranda, Logan, Langston, Cole, Annabell, Alivia, Haily, Katie, Emily, Aynsley and Jacob. Geneva also is survived by many nieces and nephews who love her dearly. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a memorial donation to any of the following: Rivercross Hospice: 9920 E 42nd St #201, Tulsa, OK 74146 Broken Arrow Nursing Home: 424 N Date Ave, Broken Arrow, OK 74012 Slaytonville Cemetery: Slaytonville Rd, Hackett, AR 72937c/o Betty Dugan, 8533 Dugan Way, Hackett, Arkansas 72937.Memorial Service to be held at later date.
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