JAMES PATTERSON

James Edward Patterson, 74, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

He was born Dec. 5, 1922, in Cairo, Ill., son of Ollie Richard and Minnie Mabel Milligan Patterson. He and Ruby Lucille Parnell were married Feb. 5, 1943, in Cape Girardeau. She died Feb. 19, 1995.

Patterson was a 1942 graduate of Thebes High School. He worked at International Shoe Co. a number of years, with Bill Pickens and Bob Brawley construction companies, and was a partner with Leroy Minton in construction.

He was a member of First Baptist Church at Thebes, and had served on Thebes School Board and Thebes Town Board. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Survivors include two daughters, Sharon Wickham and Judith Patterson of Cape Girardeau; four sisters, Dorothy Moss of Indianapolis, Ind., Mildred Stockham of San Bernardino, Calif., Ruby Simpson and Thelma Williams of Cape Girardeau; two grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; and two great-stepgrandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son, a brother and a sister.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel from 4-8 p.m. today.

Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the chapel, with the Rev. Carl Fisher officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery at Thebes, with graveside rites by VFW Post 3838.