Gertrude Brillhart Patterson

Gertrude Brillhart Patterson

CARTHAGE, TX- Funeral services for Gertrude Brillhart Patterson, age 95, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at Hawthorn Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dennis M. Rivers and Mr. Sam Patterson officiating. Interment will follow at Restland Memorial Park Cemetery. The body will lie in state at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, June 20, 2008 at Hawthorn Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday night at Hawthorn Funeral Home.

Mrs. Patterson was born October 1, 1912 in Strong, Arkansas and passed away on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at her home in Carthage, TX. She was the second born of seven children to the marriage of William Wright and Mattie Lee Moore Brillhart. Gertrude was reared and educated in Strong and El Dorado, Arkansas, later graduating from El Dorado Jr. College in 1931. A coin toss in front of Elliott's Jewelers in El Dorado won William Fae "Pat" Patterson the privilege of asking a young redhead out for a date. This would lead to the love affair that would last their lifetimes. From that coin toss, these two would partner in marriage, family, business and communite affairs. Pat and Gertrude married June 9, 1934 in El Dorado and remained devoted for over 57 years until his death in 1991. Hotel management moved Gertrude and Pat from South Arkansas to East Texas, where they partnered in the oil and industry and founded the Patterson Insurance Agency. Gertrude served her community through her musical talents, playing for the Rotary, Lions Club and Central Baptist Church. As community leaders and philanthropists, they gave the Hawthorn Clabaugh Patterson Home fou use of city of Carthage, supported multiple organizations and helped countless individuals personally and in business.

Mrs. Patterson was also preceded in death by her brother, Williard Brillhart; sisters, Pauline Chambless, Mary Lee Hendriks, Willie Gene Keeton and Maxola McCauley; niece, Susan Chambless and nephew, Buster Francis.

She is survived by her sister, LaNell Brillhart and Berry Lee Moore of El Dorado, Arkansas; nephews, Chris and Sheryl Chambless of Houston and Andy and Ginger Moore of El Dorado, Arkansas; nieces, Patsy Ann and Jim Rivers of Pulaski, Tennessee, Rebecca and Bob Wattleworth of Detroit, Michigan, Sherrel and Ben Johnson, III of El Dorado, Arkansas, Judy and David McMillan of Kingsport, Tennessee, Jody and Dennis Rivers of Henderson, Texas, Lydia and Joey Caraway of Little Rock, Arkansas, Rachel and David Uth of Orlando, Florida and Becky and Tim Rogers of El Dorado, Arkansas; special friends of the family, Luis and Susie Gonzales of Carthage, TX; numerous great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nephews and a host of friends.

Pallbearers will be Richard Thomas, Scott Thomas, Cory Bankhead, Johnathan Perlman, J.R. Duke and Jackie Robinson.

Memorials may be made to The Carthage Independent School District Education Foundation, #1 Bulldog Drive, Carthage, Texas 75633 and The First Methodist Church Music Ministry, 201 S. Shelby, Carthage, Texas 75633. Hawthorn Funeral Home

(903) 693-3816