Myrtle Patterson

Myrtle Lee "Mert" Patterson, 93, of Cape Girardeau went to be with the Lord on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014.

Mert was born Feb. 1, 1921, in Kennett, Missouri, to the late Arlie and Pauline Fisher Boyt. She was blessed with two wonderful husbands. Forest Parks was Mert's first husband; they were married May 7, 1939. Forest went to be with the Lord in 1978. From this union was born Margaret Ann Parks Madalon and Richard Joe Parks. In her golden years, the Lord blessed her with a second love; she and John Patterson were married April 6, 1985. John preceded her in death in 2005.

Mert was a devoted member of Christ Church of the Heartland. She accepted the Lord Jesus as her personal savior at a very young age, and that started a lifelong personal relationship with the Lord. She never met a stranger, and was a spiritual momma to many. You could find her at pretty much any time, praying for a long list of loved ones. Her Bible was never far from her, and she read and studied her Bible every day.

Mert is survived by her son, Richard "Joe" Parks and wife Linda; grandchildren, Bryant Douglas (Amy) Parks, Kent Paul (Janice) Madalon, Dana Michele (John) Barry, Cynthia Dawn (Jerry) Brotherton and Elizabeth Ann (Bobby) Gray; 15 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her two husbands and her parents, Mert also was preceded in death by her daughter, Margaret Ann Madalon.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Christ Church of the Heartland, with the Rev. Zach Strong officiating. Burial will be at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Cancer Center Patient Experience Fund, c/o Southeast Foundation, 60 Doctors' Park, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703 or Christ Church of the Heartland, 720 Bertling St., Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.