Patty Sue Patton was born to Emma Mclnnis and Ray Vernon Patton in Muskogee, Okla., on Sept. 26, 1927. She completed her life here on earth peacefully and joined her ancestors in heaven with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Oct. 3, 2025.
From age 2 throughout childhood and early marriage, she lived in Wichita Falls, Texas. Upon graduation from Wichita Falls High School in May 1945, she worked for Texas Electric Service Co., then Standard Oil of Texas until her marriage to Bobby Joe Tillerson on Aug. 23, 1947. He preceded her in death in February 2018 at age 91. She loved him dearly. They were blessed with almost 72 years of marriage.
She spent the first 13 years of her marriage building a home of solid values, providing their children a good foundation on which to build their lives.
In 1958, Bob became a professional with the Boy Scouts of America, and years of moving around began. First, to Vernon, Texas, where she continued as a stay-at-home mom. Then Bob’s work moved them to Stillwater, Okla., where she became a working mom in the College of Engineering at Oklahoma State University. Next to Huntsville, Texas, and the office of the Dean of Graduate Studies, Sam Houston State University. Finally, to Houston, where she worked as an administrative assistant at the Baylor College of Medicine until her retirement in 1987.
Beginning retirement in Pagosa Springs in 1986, she was certified as an EMT with the newly organized ambulance service, serving for 12 years, doubling as a teacher’s aide at the elementary school and later serving as a volunteer with the victims’ assistance program responding to scenes of domestic crises.
Throughout the early years of their retirement, Patty and Bob traveled the country, making stops at genealogy libraries to research family history. Patty wrote and published four books tracing the histories of each of her and Bob’s parents’ families.
Her greatest honor was being in love with one man for 74 years, and the “title” of “Mom” to their children, who continue living their legacy of Christian beliefs and Scouting values, all raising thoughtful, responsible, loving families.
She is survived by two daughters, Jo Lyn Peters, of Round Rock, Texas, and Rae Ann Hamilton and son-in-law Lee Hamilton, of Ovalo, Texas; one son, Rex Wayne Tillerson and daughter-in-law Renda Tillerson, of Westlake, Texas; eight grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Patty was predeceased by her parents, Emma and Ray Patton; her brother, Tad Patton; and her sister, Reva McPherson.
A funeral celebrating her life will be held Saturday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2025, with viewing at 1 p.m. and the service at 1:30 p.m. at Owen and Brumley Funeral Home in Wichita Falls. Her body will be interred at Riverside Cemetery alongside her parents and her dearly beloved Bob.
Patty and Bob loved the community of Pagosa Springs and if you read her letters to the editor of The SUN, you know this parting phrase well: “Know you are loved!”
In lieu of flowers, the family would suggest memorial donations to one of the following: Veteran’s Memorial Park of Archuleta County, Colo., Vetsmemorialpark.org, P.O. Box 2642, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 or a program of your choice troop, district, council with Scouting America (www.scouting.org).
