Roy Gene Patterson

Roy G. Patterson was born Feb. 26, 1936, in Neosho, Mo., to Emmitt and Elsie (Moore) Patterson. Roy was the first of six children. He attended grade schools in Missouri, California, Washington and Weston. He attended the first two years of high school in Weston. The family moved to Lowden, where he graduated from Touchet High School in 1954.

Roy joined the Army in the late 1950s and spent most of his service in France, where he drove heavy equipment building roads on a military base. In his earlier years, his activities consisted of membership in Cub and Boy Scouts, Tri-Cities Peak Putters 4-Wheel Drive Club, Five Point 4-Wheelers (which was organized by Roy). A short time later, he joined the Pacific Northwest 4-Wheel Drive Association. Membership of other organizations included the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Walla Walla CBers Club, where he became known as “Mountain Man.” Roy’s employment included General Tire and Continental Can Company/Crown Cork & Seal, from January 1970 until his early retirement.

In 1984, he purchased a home in Dixie, where he and his parents spent the remainder of their lives. In 1985, he purchased a cabin outside of Dayton. He spent as much time at the cabin as possible, since it was his favorite place to be. Roy’s hobbies included hunting, 4-wheeling, snowmobiling, bowling, attending auctions, hunting mushrooms, picking huckleberries and spending quality time drinking coffee with his friends at Les Schwab Tire Center.

He is survived by sisters, Gwenn Fisher, Patricia Mayfield; brother, Ron; sisters-in-law, Flora Patterson and Evelyn Patterson. He was preceded in death by his parents, Emmitt and Elsie Patterson; an infant brother, Billy Joe; brother, Don; brother-in-law, Lloyd Fisher.

The family would like to thank Walla Walla Hospice, Dr. John Sislow, nurse, Kathy and the Dixie neighbors for their support. Roy’s cremations will be spread on his cabin property in his beloved mountains at a later date. A memorial service will be held on April 18, 2015, at 6 p.m. at Herring Groseclose Chapel.