Harold Patterson

Pat graduated from Forsan High School in 1940. He enrolled at Texas Tech College in 1940 as an engineering major. He joined the Air Force Reserve in 1942 and was able to complete his degree in Petroleum Engineering with a Geology option. He was called to report to Keesler Field, Mississippi, just as he was finishing his geology field trip. He immediately reported and served as a ground school instructor, receiving an honorable discharge in 1946.

Pat started a 32-year career with Sun Oil Company in the McAllen area and was transferred to the Dallas office in January 1950. He soon met another Sun employee, Mary Tom Stevens, at the pencil sharpener, and it was love at first sight. They married in June, and celebrated 65 years of marriage before Mary’s passing in 2015.

In 1950 Pat was transferred to Odessa as an area engineer. After living in Odessa for 23 years, Pat’s career with Sun Oil took them to Corpus Christi and Midland, where he took early retirement in 1978. Pat and Mary then pulled up their Texas roots and headed for a new adventure in Casper, Wyoming, where Pat established HLP Consultants, Inc. There he was active in A.I.M.E., API, and IPAA, all related to his business. He served on the Board of Directors of the Casper Petroleum Club. In 1994 they finally retired again, this time “back home” in Odessa where they enjoyed reconnecting with old friends and, as always, making many new ones. Pat helped serve Meals on Wheels in Odessa for several years. Pat and Mary were active in the Methodist church wherever they lived, this most recently being in Waco, Texas, where they moved to be closer to family.

Pat lived life with gusto. One of his favorite sayings was, “You only come around this road but once, so live it up.” He enjoyed golf, hunting, fishing, dominoes and card games, but most of all, spending time with family and friends.

Pat is survived by his daughter Camille Furtney and her husband Steve, of Cheyenne, Wyoming; son David and his wife Patti, of Reisel, Texas; granddaughter Meredith Furtney and her fiancé, John Fatseas, of Denver; granddaughter Lauren Furtney and her husband, Justin Daraie, of Cheyenne; granddaughter Stacey Phillips and her husband John, of Reisel; great-grandchildren Jaxen and Brysen Phillips of Reisel; great-grandchildren Novaleigh, Alyssa, and Blake Phillips of Mississippi; and “adopted” granddaughter, Baylee Bennington and her parents, Lori and Wade Bennington, of Odessa, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Gene Patterson, and granddaughter, Shawna (Patterson) Surratt.

Donations may be made to the charity of your choice.