Jerline Patterson

Jerline Patterson was born on August 20, 1925, in Waco, Texas to her parents, Cleven Smith, Sr. and Othelen Lindsey Smith. She was the first of seven children born in the family. She was raised surrounded by her brothers, Cleven, Jr., Wesley, Odell, Charles, Earnest and her sister, Bettye. As a young child, she was educated in the Waco Public School System. Her most important education, guidance and training came from her parents. As the oldest sibling, she displayed strength, character, dignity, pride and love of God and family. She carried this grace throughout the remainder of her life. "Jerri," as she was affectionately called by family and friends, met and later married Thomas Edwards in Lubbock, Texas. To this union, three sons, Joe T., Lorenzo and Robert L., were born. She relocated to Denver, Colorado in the early 1950s. It was there where she united in holy matrimony to Arthur Vaughns and to this union, a son, Steven, was born. In November 1968, she wed Sam Patterson, Jr. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother whose pride and joy was the care and nurture of her family. She was very organized in her home. She displayed the love of family and God as taught her by her parents. She loved to dress and loved wearing hats; and "boy did she have some hats." And let's not forget, her hair was impeccable, with nails to match. It was all a port of that Jerline "swag." Sam and Jerri were active in several civic organizations over the years where they attended many formal engagements and parties. Sam preceded her in death in 2010. Jerri was later blessed to have twenty-one grandchildren; twenty great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren who all were an additional source of joy and pride in her life. They shared many happy and precious moments together. By profession, Jerline was employed in the dry cleaning service industry. She started working as a Silk Finisher in Lubbock, Texas. After leaving the dry cleaning business, Jerri began working in the home of Henry and Leona Frankel and later Herbert and Peggy Crane Epand. Wherever she was employed, she was loyal, dedicated and respected by those who worked around her. She retired after many years of faithful service. A woman of faith and belief in the Lord, Jerri accepted the Lord as her personal savior at a very early age. She joined the New Hope Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas, where she served as President of the Senior Usher Board. She later worshipped with her late husband, Sam, at the Corona Presbyterian Church in Denver, Colorado. She truly enjoyed the fellowship shared with her church family. Jerri and Sam served in many capacities within the church over the years, often preparing and serving meals during special events. Jerri was a fun-loving woman who enjoyed life and those she encircled. In her free time, she loved hosting family picnics and inviting all to share. Her closest friends, Patricia Hall, Della Chism, Geraldine Moody and the late Betty Dinwiddie, just to name a few, will miss the close camaraderie they all shared together. She was an avid Bronco fan. She loved watching golf and the daily soap operas. She was extremely timely and always arrived early for everything. And for all who surrounded her, they knew "she had to do things her way." She will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to have known this kind and wonderful lady. To know Jerline was to love her. She is preceded in death by her husband, Sam Patterson, Jr., a son, Lorenzo Edwards; her parents, Cleven, Sr. and Othelen Smith; brothers, Odell, Earnest, Wesley, and Cleven Smith, Jr.; her step children, Ethel Patterson and Edward Patterson. Jerline Patterson departed this life to the embrace of the Lord on August 31, 2015, in Denver, Colorado. Those left to cherish her memory and mourn her loss include 3 sons, Joe T. (Sherryl) Edwards of Denver, Robert L. (Lula) Edwards of San Antonio, Texas and Steven Vaughns of Denver; 1 brother, Charles R. (Bonnie) Smith; her sister, Bettye J. (Joe) Jones, all of Denver; her step children, Ollisteen Peyton, Eliza Reece, both of Sontag, Mississippi and Eilleen Collins of Houston, Texas; 21 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; 4 great great grandchildren; a daughter in law, Pam Vaughns of Denver, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell Funerals and Cremation - 2050 Uinta Street, Denver, Colorado
Visitation: 9/9/2015 at 4:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 9/10/2015 at 11:00 AM , COrona Presbyterian Church - 1205 East 8th Avenue, Denver, CO
Cemetery: 9/10/2015 at 2:00 PM Following the Service Fort Logan National Cemetery - 4400 W. Kenyon Ave., Denver, CO