Dr. Mary Alice Crabill Patterson

Dr. Mary Alice Crabill Patterson

Mary passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by family and tender care of Joey Manning, and Hospice of Siouxland, November 11, 2016.

Mary was born to Jacob and Mary Emmaline Crabill, February 8, 1927, in Council Bluffs, IA. Her character and humanity were spawned by reading library books during the Great Depression, developing an avid adult appreciation of science and crime fiction.

Her rich operatic alto voice and commanding stage presence led her to singing and theatrical roles, often with her husband Perry.

Dr. Patterson earned her PhD, University of Colorado, Boulder; MA, University of Nebraska, Lincoln and BA, University of Sioux Falls. Mary taught Speech and Communications at the University of Sioux Falls, University of South Dakota, and Augustana College.

She served in the SD House, numerous advocacy groups, including as SD's lone on-call ACLU representative, and was active leader of All Souls Church.

Mary owned Patterson Speech and Language Services, worked in hospitals with children in Lincoln, NE retiring as Chief Speech Pathologist, Royal C. Johnson VA Hospital.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, siblings Lina Anderson and Don Taylor, daughter-in-law Julie Merdink Patterson, and her beloved husband Perry. She is survived by her sons Charles Jacob and Daniel Alexander and his wife Eleanor May-Patterson; and her four grandchildren, Angela Robinson, John Patterson, Seth May-Patterson and Claire May-Patterson. Mary was an optimistic, loving, full-time wife, mother, grandmother and neighborhood mom, participating actively with school, church, performing arts and sporting events of each of her loved ones.

There will be no service. Condolences can be directed to ChapelHillFuneralHome.com. In lieu of gifts or cards, the Drs. Mary and Perry Patterson Fund is established at every Wells Fargo Branch, based at 2015 South Saint Aubin, Sioux City, IA 51106, account #6329085721. The fund has and will continue to sponsor fine arts programs for Sioux City youth.

As teacher, activist, therapist and poet, Mary's favorite work ends like this:

This flower now gives to you and me

Color, joy and a feeling of free.

The key to its life is TLC:

The key to all life is TLC.