Patsy Cross Patterson

1929 - 2017

Patsy Cross Patterson

Patsy Cross Patterson, a past co-owner of the Denton Record-Chronicle and an active community leader in Denton, died Tuesday night at her home in Denton. She was 88.

Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 300 W. Oak St. in Denton.

Pallbearers are Will Patterson, Walker Patterson, Caleb Springer, Tyler Lokey, Curtis Wells, Jim White, Joe Alford, Henry Hayes.

Mrs. Patterson's parents, Riley and Vivian Cross, owned the newspaper and she grew up at the Record-Chronicle, holding many positions and eventually serving as secretary of the Board of Directors. She and her husband, Fred Patterson, were the owners when the newspaper was sold to the A. H. Belo Corp. in June 1999.

She was a leader in the community, serving as president of the Arts Guild and president of the Denton Community Theatre. She was a charter member and past president of the Denton Benefit League.

In 2014, the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center was named for Fred and Patsy Patterson and Roy Appleton Jr., former general manager of the Record-Chronicle.

Patsy Cross Patterson was born Oct. 24, 1929, in Paris, Texas. In 1945, her parents bought the Record-Chronicle and the family moved to Denton. Patsy graduated from Denton High School in 1947. She attended the University of Texas at Austin and received a bachelor of journalism degree in 1951.

Fred Patterson came to Denton in 1955. His brother, Tom Patterson, and his wife invited Patsy to play bridge with them and Fred Patterson, who then worked for Moore Business Forms. Three years later, Fred and Patsy were married. She had to retire after her marriage because her father didn't think a man and wife should work together on the paper.

Patsy had worked in almost every department at the newspaper, including a time as society editor, and at a travel agency the newspaper established.

One of her memories was of Dec. 7, 1941. She took a phone call for her father telling him to turn on the AP wire machine at the paper because Pearl Harbor had been attacked.

In the 1950s, she declined a chance to attend the inauguration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower to go to Europe. She attended the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and sent back stories about the coronation.

Her leadership and fundraising involved many projects.

She and a close friend, Lou Nelson, led a drive to raise funds for a sorority house for Chi Omega Sorority at the University of North Texas. They raised $500,000 and the house was built.

"As far as I'm concerned, Patsy did that by herself," Nelson said. "She has been a great mentor and friend over the years."

Patsy was on the board when the Campus Theatre became the Denton Community Theatre and she and Fred were financial supporters. She was active in the formation of the Spring Fling celebration that later became the Denton Arts and Jazz Festival.

In the 1980s and '90s, she and Fred were supporters of the University of North Texas Symphony Orchestra. She started the Friends of the Symphony, an organization that raised money for the symphony. The Friends held fundraising dinners to support the musical organization.

She helped Fred start the annual Christmas Lighting Program that continues today on the downtown Square.

The couple traveled extensively, including trips to Russia and China.

Patsy was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Carol Ivey, and niece Karen Copeland.

Patsy's survivors include her husband, Fred; a sister, Kay Copeland; two sons, Bill Patterson and Riley Patterson; Bill's wife, Beth Patterson; grandchildren Will Patterson, Walker Patterson, Ann Patterson, Claire Springer and her husband, Caleb, and Libby Lokey and her husband, Tyler; and great-grandchildren Georgia Springer and Mollie Springer, niece Delie Fisher and husband Bob, nephews, Ben Ivey and wife Beverly, and James Copeland and wife, Lisa.

Memorials contributions may be made to St Andrew Presbyterian Church, 301 W. Oak, Denton, Texas 76201.