Opal Patterson

OPAL ELLEN STEELMAN PATTERSON, 78, of Dallas, formerly of Paris, passed from this life Friday June 11, 2010 at Baylor University Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday June 15, 2010 in the chapel of Starrett Funeral Home, with Patrick Cannon officiating. A private interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Opal was born July 11, 1931 in Greggton, Texas, a daughter of R.L. (Cotton) and Mable Bennett Steelman. She attended Paris schools and was a beautician for many years. She enjoyed motorcycle riding, camping and traveling with her family. She was an avid Dallas Cowboy fan.

She married Lester L. Patterson on August 19, 1950 in Texarkana, Arkansas.

She was preceded in death by her husband Lester after fifty-seven years of marriage; a son, Jerry Lee Patterson; a sister, Mary Alice Tuttle, and a brother, Frankie Steelman.

Survivors include a daughter, Rhonda Patterson Smith and husband Paul, of Mancos, Colorado; a son, Larry Patterson, of Garland; granddaughters Brandy Smith Elliss and husb and Ben, of Grand Junction, Colorado; Kimberly Smith Roden and husband Russell, of Plano; a grandson, Brandon Patterson, of Desoto; four great-grandsons, Caleb Elliss, Judah Elliss, Asher Elliss, of Grand Junction, CO and Gavin Roden, of Plano; and a brother-in-law, Cecil Tuttle, of Abilene; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Named to serve as pallbearers are David Chapman, Erik Chapman, Paul Lauley, Alan Nicholson, Kevin Easley, and Kelly Easley. Named as honorary pallbearers are Roger Mullican, Larry Patterson, Archie (James) Sparks, Wayne Sparks, Paul Smith and Russell Roden.