Larry W. Patterson

Graveside service for Larry W. Patterson, 69 of Vian, Oklahoma will be at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at Roselawn Cemetery in Vian, Oklahoma under the direction of Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Service, Inc.

He was born on May 24, 1951 in Tulsa into the care of Chum and Dorothy May Patterson. He entered into eternal rest on July 11, 2020 in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Larry and his family relocated to Vian where he lived for 63 plus years. Larry loved Vian because it is a small slow paced community with a friendly environment surrounded by water. He said he remembered it took a long time that day when his dad drove him and his mom from Tulsa to get to Vian because they stopped at every pond, creek and river they saw and fished it. After Larry’s dad passed away and his mom had to be put in the nursing home, Larry stayed by himself from age 13 until he was grown. Being looked after by older women in the neighborhood, he said he went fishing and killed rabbits and squirrels for meat, worked in the field with old people in the neighborhood and hauled hay to make money and other odd jobs he could find. He would go downtown and buy what he needed and some merchants liked him and would give him extra items and offer him credit. When he needed clothes, he would ride the bus to Fort Smith to get a haircut, buy new clothes and ride back which took almost all day.

Larry finished school in Vian and worked many different jobs, from school bus driver to poultry plant, Whirlpool, convenience store manager, until he retired from Harbor House Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation where he worked as the kitchen supervisor and night dorm manager. After retirement he worked on the Vian City Council and was president of the Roselawn Cemetery until his health declined.

Larry dedicated his life and service to God and God’s Church. He was the Church Deacon and maintenance man. He took care of the church lawn weekly and provided food for the kid’s summer food program at First Missionary Baptist Church.

Those he leaves behind to celebrate his life are: his wife, Regenia Forman Patterson; sons, Brandon Shade of Fort Smith, AR, Lorenzo Shade of Sallisaw, OK, Lawrence Ray Patterson of Little Rock, AR, Victor Patterson of Vian, OK and Tyler Shade; grandchildren, Charish Mycal, Zayah, Zavier, Tristan, Desmond, Airus, Cashlyn, Coltyn, Cylyn, Ka’Shaun and Tabah.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Chum and Dorothy May Patterson; 1 sister, Linda Faye Johnson Youngblood and 1 brother.