Karen Annette Patterson

KAREN ANNETTE PATTERSON, age 56, joined her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday, the 27th of July 2011, following a brief stay at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital. Born in Lubbock, Texas, on the 21st of March 1955 to Henry and Dell Oran Patterson, she grew up in nearby Petersburg, Texas among a wealth of family, friends and neighbors. She attended Petersburg public schools and by the visionary efforts of then superintendent, J. N. "Pete" Wilson, was the first student in Petersburg to benefit from a special education curriculum. Upon the untimely deaths of her parents, she was loved, welcomed and supported by a host of family members including her grandparents, Hoss and Stella Heard, aunt Shirley Groce, and sisters Nancy Moore, Lisa Smitherman and Dena Houchin. In 1980, she became a Houstonian and an integral part of the home of Dena and Don. During the next 31 years, she mastered the art of volunteering, serving with great passion at Eckerd Drugs, Trotter YMCA, Second Baptist Church (her beloved home church), Texas Heart Institute and Hall-Garcia Cardiology. When periodically visiting her sisters' homes, she continued her volunteerism at Hillcrest Baptist Daycare in Bryan, Texas, and Habitat for Humanity in Lubbock.

In January of 2011, recurrent cancer began to steal her energy but stood no chance against her sense of humor, faith in Christ, and sweet spirit.

Annette is survived by Nancy and Jim Moore of College Station, TX; Lisa, Bryan, Ross and Carol-Anne Smitherman of Lubbock, TX; Dena and Don Houchin of Houston; nephews and families, Derek, Holly, Grace and Emily Moore of College Station; Darren, Terri, Jacob, Stella and Alex Moore of Arlington, TX; maternal aunts and uncle, Shirley Groce of San Angelo, TX; Mentor and Tye Heard of Kansas City, MO; paternal aunts and uncles, Allene Williams of Plainview, TX; Eulalia Lacy of Pasadena, TX; Bennie Ruth Patterson of Lubbock, TX; Robert Cross of Lafayette, LA; Marian Powell of Plano, TX; George and Carole Patterson of Allen, TX; many cousins, friends, coworkers, admirers and fellow believers.

The family gratefully acknowledges the kindness and skills of Drs. James Wallace, Larry Foote, Steven Carpenter, Joseph Navarijo, Lubna Kazim, Alberto Colomer, James Jing and Susan Escudier; the exceptional attention from Caroline McIntosh RN, Hall-Garcia Cardiology; and the wonderfully caring nursing staff of 8 Cooley B at St. Luke's.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from three o'clock in the afternoon until six o'clock in the evening on Sunday, the 31st of July, at Geo H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Monday, the 1st of August, in the Hankamer Chapel of Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive in Houston, where Dr. Gary Moore is to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the Deacons' Parlor.

The interment is to be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Tuesday, the 2nd of August, at the Petersburg Cemetery, northeast of Lubbock, where Pastor Kerry Groce, of Mead, Oklahoma, is to officiate. Following the graveside service, a reception is to be held at the First United Methodist Church of Petersburg.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in memory of Annette may be directed to "Second Loves Kids Fund," c/o Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Dr., Houston, TX, 77057; or to Texas Heart Institute, Attn: Marc Mattsson, CEO, P.O. Box 20345, Houston, TX, 77225.

Annette wants you to know, "Jesus loves you, too." John 17: 11-13