Jimmie Frank Patterson, former resident of Hoquiam, died May 7, 2022, at the Carl T Hayden Veterans’ Administration Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona, after a brief illness.
He was born March 2, 1941, in Memphis, Texas to James Lafayette and Josie Mae (Hall) Patterson. They first welcomed a baby girl and were surprised when a twin, Jimmie was born 12 minutes later.
Jimmie grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and attended Murphy Elementary and Phoenix Union High School. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1959 and was stationed in Germany until 1963. He returned to Phoenix after the Air Force and was working at Jimmy Jacks Drive-in when he fell in love with the new girl 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 Arizona, California, Utah and Washington. They left Hoquiam after 20 years and settled in Sun City, Arizona to be close to their family. In 2018 they travelled to Ireland fulfilling a dream to visit the country together.
Jimmie and Marie were married 58 years and along the way raised four daughters and a son. 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 his grandchildren and 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.
Jimmie was a printer by trade and retired from Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. After moving to Hoquiam, he opened “The Coffee Corner” at Grays Harbor Community Hospital in Aberdeen with his daughter Tracy, where he came 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. He had a warm smile and a tremendous tender-heart. He was gentle and kind, witty and sarcastic, and he laughed a lot.
Jimmie was surrounded by his adoring family in his final days. His wife, Marie, held his hand as he passed peacefully. 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 and 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); 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
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, Arizona 85351 at 11 a.m. He will be laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85024, with military funeral honors at 2 p.m. A late luncheon will be served at the church after the services.
Arrangements are entrusted to Regency Mortuary in Sun City, Arizona. (regencymorturary.com)
