Obituary of Donna Joyce Patterson

Donna J. Patterson Newton A Celebration of Life for Donna Joyce Patterson, 82, will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 3, 2015, at the Cornerstone Bible Fellowship Church in Newton, with Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home in Newton, handling the arrangements. A fellowship time and lunch will follow the services. The burial will be at the Colfax Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials in Joyce’s name may be left at the funeral home. Joyce, the daughter of Frank and Maud (Laird) Annis, was born December 1, 1932, near Colfax, where she attended Colfax schools. On August 8, 1950, Joyce was united in marriage with Melvin LeRoy Patterson in Mitchellville. She had devoted her life to her family, and attended the Cornerstone Bible Fellowship Church. She was employed by Congregate Meals for nineteen years, retiring from C.B.G.-Rock Communications in Newton. She and Melvin had enjoyed camping with their family, bowling and playing cards. Joyce entered into the gates of Glory on December 23, 2014, at Skiff Medical Center in Newton. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Melvin on January 10, 2005; two sons: Randall and Steven; her six sisters; and four brothers. Those left to honor Joyce’s memory include her sons and daughters-in-law: Gene and Glenna Patterson, Roger Patterson; and Lynn Patterson, Sandy Bouck and Julie Patterson-Schultz; her thirteen grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; and her many friends. God saw she was getting tired And a cure was not to be. So He put His arms around her And whispered, "Come with Me." With tear-filled eyes we watched her suffer And saw her fade away. Although we loved her dearly, We could not make her stay. A golden heart stopped beating, Hard-working hands now at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best.