The only child of Aaron McLean (Mack) Akin and Mildred Edwards, Louise was born January 25, 1931 in Franklin County, Illinois. She died January 14, 2014 in Springfield, Illinois.
She was a graduate of Thompsonville (Illinois) High School and Louisiana State University. She was a resident of Louisiana for more than 60 years. To live close to her daughter, she moved to Springfield, Illinois in 2011.
While living in Louisiana, she served for many years as President of Louisiana Artists, Inc., a non-for–profit organization which promoted the arts and humanities. She was active in several civic and community organizations. Upon moving to Springfield, she became a member of the Springfield Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sangamon Chapter of the Daughters of 1812 and the Illinois Symphony Guild of Springfield.
Well-traveled and a patron of the arts, she believed that travel, cultural experiences and the appreciation of art and music was an important aspect to the quality of life. She met and knew interesting and creative people both well known and unknown. She valued them all. In the early 1950’s while working as a fashion model, she was offered a screen test by Howard Hughes, which she said she declined…and we always believed her. Louise enjoyed afternoon tea with the sculptor Henry Moore at his workshop in Hertfordshire, England. She met Pablo Picasso in France and Andy Warhol in Aspen. An artist, her works were exhibited throughout the United States and Europe. In 1976, one of her paintings was selected to be part of a special yearlong exhibit in Paris, France which honored the United States Bicentennial.
Louise sponsored the production of Independent films. Most recently, Whoopi Goldberg’s documentary “I’ve Got Something to Tell You”, a celebration of the talents of comedian Mom’s Mabley.
She married Denver Stuart Patton, II in 1951, he predeceased her. She was also preceded in death by her parents and beloved son Denver Stuart Patton, III. She survived by daughter Carol Phillips and son-in-law Dale, of Springfield, grandson Carl Patton Bernstein and wife Cassey (Bennett) of Calhoun, Louisiana, and numerous Akin, McLean, Plasters, Waller and Edwards cousins.
We express grateful appreciation to Mary Barringer of Barringer Health Management of Springfield.
Private Services will be held at a later date at the Akin-Brady Family Cemetery in Akin, Illinois. Contributions in her honor may be made to the Illinois Symphony Guild of Springfield, 524 ½ E. Capitol Avenue, Springfield, IL 62701. A service of Boardman-Smith Funeral Chapel (www.boardman-smith.net).
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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