Mary Belle Patterson

Mary Belle will be interred in the Melton family plot at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home and Cemetery in Houston, Texas, on Saturday, December 11, 2021. A Celebration of Life will begin at 9:30 am, followed by a graveside service.

Mary Belle was born July 30, 1924 in Dallas to Calvin C. and Minnie Page Deen, both of Rogers, Texas. She moved often during her childhood, but had wonderful memories of playing with her cousins in Rogers and Temple. During her high school years, she lived with her aunt, Sudie Page True, in Dallas. She graduated from Sunset High in Dallas and went on to the University of Texas at Austin. At UT, she met Clarence Bartlett Melton (September 19, 1921 — February 4,1976) of Pharr, Texas. World War II interrupted school and marriage plans for both of them. After the war, they both returned to school and she married Bart in Austin February 24, 1946. Upon graduation, they moved to Houston area, where Bart worked forStandard of Texas, which later merged with Chevron.

Mary Belle was a devoted wife and mother. She and “Big” Bart had two sons. The first was Clarence Bartlett Melton, Jr. (September 15, 1950 - June 29, 2021). The second was Robert Byron Melton born July 23, 1952. Mary Belle was extremely happy serving as elementary room mother, Cub Scout Den

Leader, and staging epic birthday parties with elaborate home made birthday cakes for Bart and Bob. She was a founding and active member of Bellaire United Methodist Church. She also participated wholeheartedly in Big Bart’s passion for fishing and boating.

November 23, 1985, she married long time friend Edward Clinton “Pete” Patterson (November 22, 1919 — December 13, 2003). She was a true caregiver all of her life and took extraordinary care of her

mother, Minnie, her mother-in-law Catherine Melton, her aunt Sudie Page True, as well as Pete Patterson.

In addition to being a devoted mother, she successfully held a variety of jobs: newspaper reporter, author, bank teller, librarian, and businesswoman. She retired as manager of a geophysical log library in Houston, which served independent geologists and petroleum engineers. She adored her grand children: Byron, William, and Rachel. She and Pete provided many wonderful trips and adventures in Texas for them. And she was blessed to know 3 great granddaughters. She was privileged to be an honorary member of the Stark and McCallum Clans. In addition to entertaining her grand children, Mary Belle enjoyed traveling, museums, and oil painting. And she was always interested in hearing about the lives of her friends and the people she encountered.

Mary Belle is survived by:

• Son Bob and wife Sue of Gunter, Texas

• Daughter-in-law Linda Lindeman Melton of New Braunfels, Texas

• Grandchildren and great grandchildren:

• Laura Mack of Austin, Texas

• Byron Melton and wife Bridget, daughter Valentine Stark of McKinney,

Texas

• William Melton and wife Andrea, daughter Maile Marybelle of

Anchorage, Alaska

• Rachel Melton Chhabra and husband Ravi, daughter Lincoln Stark and

son Lucas Singh of McKinney, Texas

Donations can be made to:

• American Cancer Society

• Mouth & Foot Painting Artists ( mfpausa.com )

Livestreaming for the Celebration of Life can be found at https://

www.facebook.com/ForestParkWestheimer