Clarence Edward Patton

Clarence Edward Patton, “Pat”, age 89, left us on Wednesday morning, March 11, 2015, to walk with the Lord. Pat was born February 13, 1926 in Havre, Montana. He was the second of three children born to his parents, Nathan D. Patton and Esther L. Clark Patton.

The Pattons moved to Washington in 1927. They settled in Yakima Valley in 1928, where Pat attended Mountain View Grade School and then graduated from White Swan High School. For two years after high school, Pat continued his studies with post HS courses. He also drove a school bus and worked on a neighbor’s farm.

In 1946, Pat left Yakima to join the United States Coast Guard. Boot Camp was at the Coast Guard Training Center in Alameda, California. Following that, Pat was attached to the Marine Inspection Office in Houston, Texas; had a short stint on the USCGC Hudson out of New Orleans; Yeoman School in Groton, CT, and then returned to MIO in Houston for final duty and release from active duty. Pat remained in Houston after his Coast Guard service. He attended and graduated the University of Houston. Pat took a position with Houston Lighting and Power as a field purchasing agent. He partnered in a real estate office, as well as a grocery store in Humble, Texas. Before retiring, Pat owned and operated a number of print shops. He relocated to the Austin area where he met and married his wife of the last 25 years, Joyce.

Pat wore many hats over the years in business and as a store owner. However, if you asked Pat his trade, he would always say “Carpenter.” Pat was a craftsman at heart and he loved to build. After retiring, Pat and Joyce moved from Austin to Georgetown, Texas. Then in 2001, they moved to a sweet little cottage on Willesley Farm in St. Michaels, MD, a family farm belonging to Joyce’s eldest daughter and her husband. At each of their homes along the way, Pat and Joyce would build and create the most remarkable gardens with trellises, archways, gazebos, decks, bridges, fences and walkways— all wonderfully encircled by an abundance of flowering plants, bushes and trees. The two would also make the dearest of friends everywhere they went— wonderful friendships that have followed them through the years to this day.

Pat loved living on the farm in St. Michaels. He took pride in farm-hand work and helping to care for the Scottish Highland cattle belonging to his step-son-in-law. When asked if he could relive any part of his life over and over again, Pat replied “I’d like to be back on the farm.” Pat’s last wish was to have his remains brought back to St. Michaels and scattered over Willesley Farm.  A final resting place ceremony will be held in the fall at the farm where Pat’s family will carry out his last wish.

While in St. Michaels, Pat volunteered at the Fire House as well as the Senior Center. He loved to assist and help people and was always ready and willing to lend a hand. Pat was a card-carrying member of the Masons, The American Legion and the VFW. He was a faithful parishioner of Christ Church in St. Michaels. He was a generous and proud supporter of the Wounded Warriors Project and always had a soft spot for the military men and women who serve our country.

Pat loved to sing tenor and had a great voice. If asked, he’d oblige and play a role in any  performance— and do it mighty well. He loved music and dancing. Pat was an avid reader and loved books about American and world history, as well as books about our nation’s military and presidents. Pat had great fondness for old Ford cars and trucks. He loved going to the antique car shows. Pat was a keen poker player and an even sharper bridge player. He loved films and good comedy series. His favorite television shows can be found on BBC, which tells you a little bit about his sense of humor. Pat had a terrific sense of humor, a quick wit, and was well known for timely one liners that were too often missed by those not as sharp and clever as he.

Before being diagnosed with cancer, Pat finished the television series, Longmire. His affinity for Sheriff Longmire in the show must have come from the character being so familiar and identifiable with his own. Pat was a mild mannered, honest, good-natured, light-hearted, kind and gentle soul. He was a great listener, which he did way more of than talking. He had opinions, but he only shared them if you asked. He had a joke for every occasion, but only shared them if the timing was right. Pat gave form to the expression still waters run deep.

In his last years, and his last days, Pat loved best having his morning coffee meetings with the “fella’s of the round table” (as they have become known to those outside the circle). Pat was so glad to have met and gotten to know these gentlemen— they helped brighten and top off his life. If he could have stayed one more day for any other reason than to be with his wife and see his family, it would have been to have a cup’a joe with the “fella’s of the round table.”

Pat lived to see his 89th birthday, which he ushered in with his favorite— oysters on the half-shell, fried oysters, oysters Rockefeller and a nice bottle of Eroica Riesling. Pat was happy. He was fulfilled. He loved his wife dearly, and his only regret was having to leave her. Pat was truly content in all things and very much at peace. As with everything that came his way, whether he liked it or not, he was accepting. Pat passed on from this life in the same way in which he lived it, calmly, stately, good-naturedly, gentlemanly, with faith, thanks, love and appreciation. Pat’s last breaths were to the tune of John Denver’s, Country Roads Take Me Home.  Pat will be missed greatly and loved eternally.

Pat is survived by his wife, Joyce; two sons, Garry Patton and David Patton; three step-children, Lesley Moyer, Gary Hosking and Shelley Zambardi Hineline; a daughter-in-law, step-sons-in-law, sixteen grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; his younger brother, Rev. Nathan D. Patton and sister-in-law, Janet Patton; and, eight nephews and two nieces—one of which he was particularly close with, Michele Christensen, who is the daughter of his sister, Dorothy Dahl, who preceded him.

Cremation services were provided by Barton Family Funeral. A memorial service for family and friends in honor of Pat will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2015, at 11am at Reunion at Redmond Ridge, 111315 Trilogy Parkway, Redmond, WA.

— Though Pat had a wonderful appreciation of flowers and sentiment, nothing would make him happier than his friends and family making a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org, in lieu of any other gesture of kindness and regard.