Obituary of Jimmie Frank Patterson

On March 2, 1941 on a farm in Memphis, Texas James and Josie Patterson welcomed a baby girl. Much to their surprise Jimmie Frank Patterson was born 12 minutes later. Twins were not expected. Jimmie would later say he kicked his sister Cleo out first to make sure it was safe. As children, Jimmie and Cleo thought everyone came in pairs. The family moved to Arizona in 1944 where he attended Murphy Elementary and Phoenix Union High School. In spite of challenges (losing his father at age 6) and a modest upbringing, Jimmie had very fond memories of growing up in Phoenix, playing ball in the streets; spending all day Saturday at the movies watching favorites such as, Roy Rogers, The Cisco Kid, and Buck Rogers; swimming in the canal and climbing cottonwood trees. He said when he was growing up, he never realized they were poor. Jimmie joined the U.S. Air Force in 1959 and was stationed in Germany until 1963. He loved his country and believed strongly in the fundamentals on which the U.S.A. is based. We’re going to miss talking to him about politics, current events, and history. He believed in simple ways to be a good citizen: vote, give blood, fly the American flag properly. He returned to Phoenix after the Air Force and was working at Jimmy Jacks Drive-in when he fell in love with a girl fastidiously cleaning the lobby. He married Rose “Marie” (O’Connell) Lofthouse in 1964. All these years later he still vividly described the red dress Marie wore for her interview; it was his favorite. Adventurous and never afraid to try something new, Jimmie and Marie lived in several different cities in AZ, CA, UT, and WA. In 2018 they travelled to Ireland with their son Jimmie and son-in-law Chase fulfilling a dream to visit the country together. Jimmie and Marie were married 58 years and along the way raised 4 daughters and a son. Growing up, their kids never knew their parents disagreed or fought. The couple decided early on that they would present a united front, always showing deference and respect in front of the kids. It was a front impossible to break, and oh how we tried. He was an amazing Dad who managed to make each of his five kids believe they were his favorite. He was a much-loved “Gramps” to 10 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Charitable together, Jimmie and Marie welcomed countless friends, family, and many a stranger to live in their home until they could “get on their feet”. He was proud of his 45 years of sobriety. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served many callings, most recently as Facilities Manager for his home ward. Perhaps because of his love of books, Jimmie was a printer by trade. He owned and operated Patterson Quick Copy in Provo, UT and would eventually end his printing career when he retired from Luke Air Force Base in AZ. Not content to stop working, he opened “The Coffee Corner” at the Aberdeen (WA) Community Hospital with his daughter Tracy, where he was well-liked and respected. He was quite pleased with himself to have come up with the tag line, “Have You Had Your Shots Today?”. He loved ice cream, Oreos®, cherry pie, a donut with coffee, and a good buffet (or some of us would argue, even a bad buffet). He had a warm smile and a tremendous tender-heart. He was gentle and kind, witty and sarcastic, and he laughed a lot. He could find humor in the darkest moments. Jimmie was surrounded by his adoring family in his final days. His wife, Marie, held his hand as he passed peacefully on May 7, 2022. He will be terribly missed but we are eternally grateful for his example of love and wisdom. He was preceded in death by his parents James Lafayette and Josie Mae Patterson and his sister Kathryn “Kathie” Meador. He is survived by his wife Marie; twin-sister Cleo; daughters Juledine, Dawn (Rich), Vanette (Rob), and Tracy; son Jimmie (Chase); grandchildren Candice (Cole), Ashlie, Heather, Morghen, Jarred, Lance, Mackenzie (Jordan), Van, Mack, and Raven; great-grandchildren Basil, Leonella, Levon, Gary, and Rhea. Services for Jimmie will be Monday May 23, 2022 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 13014 N 108th Avenue, Sun City, AZ 85351. There will be a viewing beginning at 11:00 am, with the Celebration of Jimmie’s Life at 11:30 am. He will be laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, AZ 85024, with military funeral honors at 2:00 pm. Please join us at the church for a late luncheon after the services. regencymortuary.com We would like to thank the Nurses, Doctors, and Support Staff at the Carl T Hayden Veterans' Administration Medical Center in Phoenix where Jimmie was treated with compassionate care and the utmost respect.