Shirley Mae Patterson, 78

Published 10:45 am Thursday, March 31, 2016

Shirley Mae Patterson passed away on February 23, 2016, at Northwest Hospital, Tucson, Arizona, after suffering a courageous fight from Mantel Cell Lymphoma and a rare auto immune disease named Granulomatosis.

Shirley Patterson

Shirley Mae was born on May 13, 1937, to Emil and Inez Doggett, in Austin, Minnesota. She attended country school and in 1955 graduated from St. Augustine High School, Austin, Minnesota. Following high school, she was employed in the office of Geo. A. Hormel & Co. During this period, one of the highlights of her life was when she became a finalist in the Miss Austin Pageant and also met the love of her life, Harry Patterson. On Feb. 1, 1958, she married Harry Patterson at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Austin, Minnesota.

During her lifetime Shirley led a very active life in New Mexico and Arizona where she and her husband owned and operated various restaurants as well as an Indian jewelry business. She chaired the Cafe Committee which was responsible for increasing the volume of business at their cafe in Sun City Oro Valley, Arizona.

She excelled as a caterer, a decorator, talented artist and participated in various sports including tennis, softball, volleyball and bowling. Tennis was her favorite. She joined a tennis club and played three to five times a week. She served two terms as president of the tennis club.

Shirley was a devout Catholic, and devoted her life to her husband and family. Her children called her their “rock.” She will be remembered as a woman of strength and courage, spunky, beautiful inside and out and lived life to the fullest. She will be missed by everyone who knew and loved her.

Shirley is survived by her husband, Harry; and children, Terri Thurman (Michael, dec), Michael (Geraldine) Patterson, Kristine Kitchens and Gregory Patterson; grandchildren, Michael Patterson, Debra Kitchens and Alexander Patterson; sisters, Janet Commers, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Janeth Ranum, Austin, Minnesota, Gwen Jordan, Albuquerque, New Mexico; and brother, Ron Doggett, Raleigh, North Carolina; loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Emil and Inez Doggett; baby daughter, Suzanne Patterson; son-in-law, Michael Thurman. Funeral services were held at St. Marks Catholic Church, Oro Valley, Arizona, on March 5, 2016.