Patterson passes away at age 75
Services were held for Jim Williams Patterson, age 75, May 25 at the First Baptist Church of Salado with ministers Brian Dunks and B.O. Baker officiating. Burial followed in the Salado Cemetery.
Patterson died on May 22.
He was born on March 12, 1926, m Blooming Grove, Texas to August and Sudie Holditch Patterson. After graduating from Blooming Grove High School in 1943, he served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He married Wynell Gillen on August 4, 1950.
A petroleum Landman for over 40 years, he was employed by Lone Star Producing Company (later Enserch Exploration) for 26 years. With that company, he worked and lived in Mississippi, Oklahoma, San Antonio and Dallas. After retiring from Enserch, he joined Lyco Energy Corporation and then Five States Energy Company m Dallas. Moving to Salado m 1991, he continued to serve the 011 industry as an Independent Petroleum Landman.
He attended Oklahoma City University and received a Bachelor of Laws from Jackson School of Law in 1964 and an Alumnus By Choice from Baylor University in 1992. A past President of the Dallas Association of Petroleum Landmen and a past officer of the American Association of Proffessional Landmen, he was one of the first individuals. designated as a Certified Professional Landman in 1980. He was a frequent lecturer for oil and gas courses at Southern Methodist University, the University of Texas at Dallas and Dallas Community College. For the Southwestern Legal Foundation, he chaired the 1996 Oil and Gas Institute for Petroleum landmen. For several years, he served as a Trustee of Dallas Baptist University.
He was past President of Salado Lions Club longtime member of the Masonic Lodge, leader in the Salado Chamber of Commerce, Board Member of the Salado Civic Center Foundation and a past President of Mill Creek Community Association. He and Wynell were recognized as Alumni of the Year in 1996 by the Central Texas Chapter of The Baylor Alumni Association.
A deacon and devoted servant of the Lord, a former member of Royal Haven Baptist Church in Dallas, he was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Salado. In the congregationn, he was known as a faithful and gentle servant. For the last several years, he served the church as Chairman of the Strategic Building Committee for its recently completed Worship Center. Last month, he was named 2001 Senior servant of the Year by the Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Don. Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Wynell Gilen Patterson; son and daughter-in-law, Randy and Phyllis Patterson of San Antonio; son and daughter-in-law, Ken and Cristol Patterson of Fair Oaks Ranch; son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Shannon Patterson of Dallas; daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Greg Stapp of Dallas; grandchildren, Paul and Angela Patterson; Clint and Sam Patterson; McKenzie and Mason Stapp; brother and sister-in-law, G.W. and Earldean Patterson of Blooming Grove; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Salado.
Harper-Talasek Funeral Home of Salado was in charge of arrangements.