Cecil L. "Doc" Patterson

TENNYSON — Cecil L. Patterson MD "Doc", 86, a resident of Woodmont Health Campus in Boonville, Ind., passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007, at St. Mary's Warrick Hospital.

Funeral services will be held at Koehler Funeral Home, 304 E. Main Str., Boonville, IN 47601, on Friday, Sept. 21, at 11:30 a.m., with burial in Alexander Park Lawn Cemetery, 1526 S. Green river Rd., Evansville, with military rites by the Retired Veterans Memorial Club.

Visitation at the funeral home will be from 2 to 8 p.m. today, Sept. 20, and 10 a.m. on Sept. 21. All times are Central Daylight Times.

Cecil L. Patterson was born on April 20, 1921, in Metropolis, Ill., the oldest of six children born to Walter L. and Hazel A. (Walker) Patterson. When he was only 12 years old his father passed away and he immediately assumed the roll of "man of the house" performing many jobs to help his mother and siblings. His grandfather, George Walker, and uncle, Russell Walker, drove to Brookport, Ill., and took the seven of them back to reside in New Albany, Ind.

In 1939, Cecil graduated with "honors" from New Albany High School. He was determined to go to college and even though he had saved a little money, he realized that he would have to pay his own way. He enrolled at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., where he excelled in his studies. While at Bradley, he met his future wife, Maggie R. Welcher. After they married, they proceeded to the University of Louisville, where he attended and graduated from the U of L School of Medicine.

He became a medical doctor with the U.S. Army and was assigned to a facility in Dearborn, Mich., where he was responsible for overseeing the induction center for the three surrounding states. After his Army assignment, he returned to Southern Indiana to start his private practice.

Dr. Patterson opened a practice in Charlestown, Ind., where he saw patients in his office and made house calls in the surrounding countryside. During his service in Charlestown, he became active in community affairs and became the volunteer chairman for the community redevelopment effort. They were successful in renewing the town square and added multiple housing units for the elderly.

Dr. Patterson and his family left Charlestown, Ind., and opened his practice in Scottsburg, Ind. He also continued his hobbies of raising cattle and his artistic paintings. After many years there, he moved to Evansville, Ind., where he and a partner established an Emergency Room Physicians practice at Deaconess Hospital. This was possibly the first such practice in the United States. He practiced there for numerous years.

During this period he had purchased a historic farm in Tennyson, Ind., and established a new home for his cattle. With retirement fast approaching, he once again answered the call to duty by opening a practice in Dale, Ind. Community leaders in Dale had convinced Dr. Patterson to build an office building and provide medical service for this underserved area. This was to be his last endeavor to serve his fellow man in a medical capacity. In all of his years of practice he never refused to accept any patient regardless of their ability to pay and he never in all 42 years as a practicing physician used a collection agency.

At his retirement, he returned to his farm in Tennyson and continued his artistic endeavors and raising cattle. He was a great asset to Tennyson as he painted murals throughout the town and at the local elementary school. Additionally, he established a school newspaper and wrote computer programs for local hospitals and businesses. He also refurbished computer equipment which he charitably gave to students who were in need of such devices.

For more than 40 years, he hosted "Docs Annual Cookout" and no matter where it was held, everyone was invited and attendance each year was in the hundreds.

Cecil was preceded in death by his parents, Walter L. and Hazel Patterson; his wife, Maggie; his daughters, Terry and Gayle; his brother, Maurice; and sisters, Juanita Grube and June Eurton.

He is survived by a loving sister, Lucille Stevens of New Albany, Ind.; his brother, Billy of Fairway, Kan.; and a son, Glenn of Schereville, Ind.

Prayers and thanks to all of his many friends, but most especially to Karen and John Maltby of Tennyson, who loved and cared for him in his last years.

Condolences and any special remembrance may be made online at www.koehlerfuneralhome.com.