Billy Joe Patten

BILLY JOE PATTEN

Billy Joe Patten, born August 4, 1926, passed away April 25, 2025, in Cedar Hill, Texas at the age of 98.

As a young child, Bill lived in west Texas with his family and recalled some of the troubles they endured during the Dust Bowl. At the age of 5 he travelled from Lubbock in a boxcar with his grandmother Fowler and all their furniture and returned to the area around Point, Texas and the hope of better times. However, difficulties continued during the Depression and, at the age of 13, his mother passed away and Bill went to live with his father’s parents.

After graduating from high school in 1943, Bill farmed with his uncle in Lone Oak until he was drafted in December 1944. He served in the Philippines until December, 1946. In October of the following year, he married Dorothy Stevens in Greenville, Texas and in 1948 their son, Norman Ray, was born.

Throughout his life, Bill was known as a jack of all trades. He learned the value of hard work on the farm as a young boy and through necessity learned to be a carpenter, mechanic, plumber and electrician (all performed in his own special way, of course). He preferred working outdoors and spent the last half of his career in the landscaping and irrigation business.

He was a member of the Church of Christ where he served many years as a deacon. Until the year before his passing he would most days be found at the church building mowing, trimming trees or tending to the beautiful flowers he had planted. Bill lived the quiet life of a servant and was always ready to help a friend or neighbor.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Dorothy Stevens Patten and his brother, John Lynn Patten.

He is survived by his son, Norman Ray Patten (Susan), three grandchildren, Amy Denise Whitacre (Michael), Eric Lane Patten (Britni), and Lynn Marie Brown (Clayton), as well as nine great-grandchildren, Reese, Eva Rose, and Jace Patten; Bailey and Brody Whitacre; and Reagan, Miller, Riley, and Bennett Brown. Bill is also survived by a sister, Margie Moore, half-sisters Ilona McClain and Brenda Jones and numerous nieces and nephews.

A visitation is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, from 11 am to noon at Wayne Boze Funeral Home in Waxahachie, Texas. The graveside service will follow at 3 pm at Hall Cemetery in Lone Oak, Texas.

Memorials may be made to Cherokee Home for Children, Downtown Church of Christ in Cedar Hill or The White Rock Fund.