Raymond O. Patterson

Raymond Odell Patterson, age 90, of Conway, went to be with his Savior November 21, 2019. He was born in Quitman, Arkansas on December 22, 1928, to William Paul and Ola Mae Johnson Patterson. Raymond was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 69 years, Mildred; his son Ken Patterson and Jenny Hose of Morrilton; his daughter, Marla McCormack and son-in-law, Barron McCormack of Conway; grandsons, Jacob McCormack and Sam McCormack of Rogers; his sister, Beuna (Gene) Martin; his nephews Jim (Julie) Martin and Dr. David (Lisa) Martin, and several great nieces and great nephews, cousins and a multitude of friends.
Raymond served in the Army during the Korean War and was part of the greatest generation ever known. He graduated from Oklahoma A & M Tech with a degree in diesel mechanics. He was employed by ABF where he worked and played practical jokes. Occasionally, he brought home a candy bar to the delight of his kids who had usually already faked their naps and raided the cookie jar. All while Mildred fixed hair in the attached beauty shop he had built for her. He retired in 1986 after thirty years of employment. One of his favorite things to tell everyone was that he was retired longer than he worked!
He was a thirty-second degree Mason and member of the Green Grove Lodge in Conway. He received his fifty-year pens from both the Masons and the Scottish Rite. He never told any of their secrets no matter how much the family tried to get something out of him! Raymond was also a pilot in his earlier years and owned an airplane. He took the family on many trips that sometimes got a bit “hairy” in bad weather. His copilot, Mildred would be the stewardess and keep the kids calm while he flew the family to safety. He stopped flying very much after he once put the plane nose down on the runway with his young daughter, who promptly upon landing told mom. His last private plane flight (as copilot) was with his grandsons flying over their place on Greers Ferry Lake. It was a beautiful sunset flight that he never forgot and neither will they. Raymond truly loved traveling with Mildred and together they visited every single state and MANY countries including but not limited to England, Belgium, Italy, France (38th Anniversary), Switzerland, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Greece, China, Canada, South Africa, Mexico, Egypt, Jordan, and his all time favorite, Israel! In his later years, trips to Branson would be special times for he and Mildred, even when he had to finally let her drive. It was funny how all of a sudden, she became a “really good driver”!

He was an excellent gardener and when the kids were young, he LET them help, much to their dismay at the time. Mildred would can and freeze the assorted vegetables to feed the family and there was always plenty to share in which he took great pride. He was a jack of all trades and could fix anything according to his daughter. He always had a shop to “piddle” in and he took much joy in making “Jesus” plaques. He loved to give them away and if you ever met him for more than a few minutes, he probably gave you one! He loved talking to people and he loved giving them away as his testament. He was a deacon and founding member of Woodland Heights Baptist Church. He truly enjoyed serving the church body and loved the Lord with all his heart.
He loved his family more than anything on this earth and was especially fond of his two grandsons! Most people knew Raymond as a sweet, kind, loving man; and they were absolutely right. But if you were just lucky enough, you got to know the joker, prankster, ornery side of this larger than life, one of a kind, precious soul!

Do not weep for him because he now walks with his Savior!

Visitation with the family will be at Griffin Leggett in Conway on Sunday, November 24th at 2:00-4:00pm. The funeral service will be at Woodland Heights Baptist on Monday, November 25th at 2:00 with a graveside service to follow at Crestlawn. The family asks you to please sign the guest book and leave any great memories you might have. Your memories will be combined in a book for the family to cherish.