Patricia Patterson

Patricia (Pat) Patterson, 92, of Traverse City, passed away at home on July 6, 2022. Pat was born in Greenville, Michigan on Dec. 27, 1929, to George Eber and Francis May (Frownfelder) DeGraw. On Aug. 4, 1950, in Lowell, Michigan, she married Allen Vander Meulen and together they had 4 children. Sadly, in February of 1959, Allen was lost to cancer. Pat married her second husband, Douglas Edward Patterson on Mar. 10, 1962. Together they had one daughter, Belinda Ann Patterson. In 1968, the family moved from Grand Rapids to Traverse City. Pat was a voracious reader and talented seamstress. In addition, she enjoyed knitting, campfires, and made several beautiful wedding cakes. She was hired at Meijer in 1977 and retired in 1991. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW.

She was preceded in death by her first husband in 1959, her second husband in 2009, her parents and her brother, Jack DeGraw.

Surviving are sisters: Shirley (Edward) Weber and Connie Berg, brother, Daniel (Mary Lou) DeGraw, children: Sandra Lee (Edward) Kinnee, Allen Vander Meulen and partner Lynn Gallatin, Dennis James (Jenny) Vander Meulen, Perry Dean (Pamela) Vander Meulen, Belinda Ann (Stan) Whaley and step-daughter, Debra Patterson Gardner, 15 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Per her wishes no services are planned. Cremation has taken place and she will be buried at Washington Park Cemetery in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Memorial contributions may be directed to the National Cancer Society or Hospice of Northern Michigan.

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