Eli Patterson, Jr.

Eli H. Patterson, Jr. age 73 of Middlesboro, KY, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, February 14, 2022.  He was born October 20, 1948, the son of the late Eli Harm Patterson, Sr. and Maggie Mullins Patterson.

There is so much to say about Eli, so many memories, we could write a book.  If you knew him, you knew he loved life, the mountains, and his “people”.  He had so many friends and special memories with them.

He was a stubborn man, very set in his ways, but that’s what made him who he was.  He was a hard worker and tried his best to do things right the first time.  He loved helping others any way he could; mowing yards, fixing things, giving rides to the store when needed, etc.

He loved to have fun.  He enjoyed aggravating his Conley "girls", his Conley “coffee/lotto crew”, his Dollar Store “girls”, and his Kroger “people”.  He was never too old to try anything – jump roping in the aisles of the Dollar Store and going down a slide with his grandson, Brayden.  He enjoyed taking walks and drives in the mountains with his kids and grandkids, and telling them stories of his life.

Sometimes, life’s lessons were hard for him, but he learned from them and moved on to be better.  He gave his life to the Lord before he died.  It took him a while to accept God’s forgiveness, but we serve a loving, just, and forgiving God.  God showed that to Eli in his own way.  We miss him and look forward to seeing him in that Promise Land.  He didn’t cross Jordan alone; Jesus held his hand, and he is at peace now.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brothers and sisters-in law, Eugene Patterson, Leonard Patterson, Buddy (Wanda) Patterson, Dester (Thelma) Patterson and Ancel (Georgie) Patterson; and his sisters and brothers-in-law, Flora May, Evelyn (June) Lamb, Magdalene (Ralph) Mays, and Retha Partin.

He is survived by the following:

Children, Jamie Patterson (Dennis Culler), Brian Patterson, and Stephanie Patterson (Kyle Szymanowski)

Mother of his children, Roberta Patterson

Sisters, Opal (Bill) Inman and Bernice (Earl) Gilbert

Sister-in-law, Maxine Patterson

Brother-in-law, Eddie Partin

Grandchildren, Alyssa (Caleb) Ottney, Kaleb Hicks, Brayden Eli Szymanowski, and Kal-El Patterson

Special friend, Juanita Marlow

Special sons, Timmy and Casey Marlow

Special grandchildren, Hayley and Chance Marlow

And a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 17, 2022, at the Cawood Funeral Home Chapel in Middlesboro, KY.  Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Friday, February 18, 2022, at the Cawood Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Dakota Heck presiding.  Music will be provided by Dakota and Kyndra Heck, David Gilbert and Tyler Warwick.

Pallbearers will be Joe Holder, Brian Patterson, Kyle Szymanowski, Caleb Ottney, Terry Heck and David Gilbert.  Honorary pallbearers will be Robert Gilbert and Dakota Heck.

Graveside services will immediately follow in the Patterson Cemetery, Patterson Lane, Middlesboro, KY.

Register book and online condolences are available at www.cawoodfh.com.

Cawood Funeral Home, Middlesboro, KY, is in charge of all arrangements.