Marion Patterson - Smith

Marion Patterson-Smith, affectionately known as Tini, age 71, loving mother of Cara, and adoring grandmother to Kinley James, transitioned to her heavenly home on November 4, 2024.

Tini was the sixth child born October 3, 1953, in Junction City, Kansas, to Myrtle and McKinley Patterson, Sr. Marion, accepted Christ as a teen and became a member of Second Missionary Baptist Church, Junction City Kansas. Growing up, Tini participated in gymnastics and loved roller skating and hanging out with her friends on the weekends.

Tini was educated in Geary County Schools USD 475, where she graduated from Junction City High School in 1971. Tini was talented in so many aspects. While at JCHS, she was extremely active in various groups and organizations. She was a member of the cheer squad, Kayettes, feature writer on the school newspaper as well as a member of the Spanish, Usher, and Glee Clubs. In 1968, as a sophomore, Tini was nominated to the Snowflake court and as a senior, she was crowned Queen of Court.

After graduation, Tini attended Emporia State University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. As a student on campus, she was initiated into the Theta Lambda Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., on April 12, 1976. Upon graduation, Tini moved to Lawrence, Kansas where she spent a brief time teaching before she settled in Denver, Colorado, in 1979, beginning her 35-year teaching career in the Denver Public Schools. She started as a Kindergarten teacher, but taught various grades, and later retired as the Dean of Students in 2014. During her career, she returned to school to earn her Master’s Degree in Education. As teaching was her passion, she returned to the classroom as a substitute teacher, alongside her daughter in the Aurora Public Schools until her death.

Family and close friends will fondly remember Tini’s ability to plan the most special details for her annual Christmas brunch, parties, and many festive occasions with her signature style, flair and sparkle. Her nieces and nephews will affectionately remember her gifting them annual back to school bags/backpacks. That was her tradition, which she did for many years. Tini was a devoted mother to Cara and a doting grandmother to Kinley James, who brought her an immense amount of joy the last few years, as she watched her compete in gymnastics, and participated in dance and Girl Scouts.

With a large family tree consisting of both blood ties and bonds formed from the heart, Tini’s reach was as far as it was wide, and she was cherished deeply by many.

Marion was preceded in death by her parents, McKinley Patterson, Sr. and Myrtle Patterson, siblings Raymond “Monte” Patterson and Betty Jo Coleman and her infant son Dorian Crandel Nether.

Marion (Tini) will be lovingly remembered by her beloved daughter, Cara Christine Nether, granddaughter Kinley James Nether (Aurora), who she referred to as “Sunshine”; siblings; Arlene Courtney, San Antonio, TX; McKinley Patterson, Jr. (Jo), Aurora, CO; Virgie Lee Baldwin, Junction City, KS; Annette (Chuck) Lewis, Matteson, IL; Yvonne Warren, Junction City, KS; Babbette (Walter) Carr, Junction City, KS; Tracy Smith (Jerome), Aurora, CO; and Valerie Guy, Junction City, KS and brother-in-law Brian Coleman, Junction City, KS.