Mary Jo Patten

Mary Josephine Patten, 87, of Arlington, TX, passed away Sunday, August 27th, surrounded by her family. She led a life as a servant of Jesus and her heart overflowed with love for her family and friends.

Mary Jo was born in McDowell County, North Carolina on March 5, 1936, to William C and Mary Green Newton. She grew up in her hometown of Highlands, NC, a mountain town that she dearly loved. Her fondest childhood memories include picnics with friends, horseback riding, baby sitting, picking berries and making jams and pies, sleep overs with her friends, playing paper dolls and ice skating. In her teens she worked as a “soda jerk” for her father in his soda shop. It was here that she met an Air Force, “Yankee” Richard (Dick) Patten, who quickly became the love of her life. The two were later married on August 30, 1955, and headed to Vermont where he completed his electrical engineering degree.

Mary Jo cherished her family; she and Dick had four children Michael Newton, Christopher Martin, Sandra Elizabeth, and Steven Carlos, and moved to Arlington, TX in November 1972. During her 50 years in Arlington, she has been an active member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church. It was here that she continued as a devoted member of the church choir, an activity she had done since the age of 11. Mary Jo was passionate about the choir, and numerous old hymns brought her to tears as she sang or listened to them. She loved her church family and shared her faith and love of the Lord with everyone she met.

Mary Jo also loved her politics and was a member of the League of Women Voters and The Republican Women of Arlington. She attended the 1980 Republican National convention in Dallas, where the Texas vote for Ronald Regan was cast. She traveled to many conventions and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of that time and shared so much love and laughter with her Republican friends.

Though she loved her participation in the church choir, the Women’s circle and the Republican Women Ladies organizations, Mary Jo’s most cherished position was that of Memaw to her 12 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. She treasured her time with her grandkids and great grandkids and showed her affection by sending cards, personalized with her overwritten messages, and giving amazingly warm hugs. She lovingly remembered accomplishments and conveniently forgot all mistakes.

Mary Jo will always be remembered for her wit, her humor, her laughter, her embellished greeting cards that exuded “extra love”, asking about the “thing-a-ma-jig”, or the “twisty-thingy”, her reminding us that “We will worry about that tomorrow”, her love of the smell of White Shoulders, quoting Winnie the Pooh, and that southern accent that will live on in the hearts and memories of those who loved her.

Mary Jo was preceded in death by her husband Richard Bennett Patten, brother James Henry Newton, sister Elizabeth “Lifa” Flannigan, and her parents William C and Mary Will Newton. She is survived by her four children, Michael Patten (Sherry), Christopher Patten, Sandra Barger, and Steven Patten (Kristi), her 12 grandchildren: Patrick Patten (Stephanie), Crystal Kirk (Stephen), Kable Patten, Alicia DeLario (Jonathan), Nathan Patten (Laura), Kiera Welsh, Kurtis Blankenship, Austin Barger (Allison), Corey Barger, Collin Patten, Kasidi Patten, and Kylie Patten as well as 15 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held on Friday, September 1, 2023, from 6-8 p.m. at Wade Family Funeral Home in Arlington, TX. The funeral will take place on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at 10 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1300 S. Fielder Rd. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cook Children’s Health Foundation, 801 7th Ave. Fort Worth, TX 76104, Cancer Research, in memory of Mary Jo Patten. Click here to donate now.

She will be laid to rest in Highlands, North Carolina, Wednesday, September 6, 2023 with a graveside service.