Billy J. "BJ" Patterson was born on June 22, 1925 in Doniphan, Missouri to George Rufus and Etta May (Parrish) Patterson and went to his home home on May 14, 2019 in Georgetown, Texas. When he was three years old, his family moved to Cushing, Oklahoma where he grew up. During the Depression his family owned and operated The Katy Café, where he remembered his Mother and one of his sister's singing Hymns while they cooked for the customers. The Depression was hard on everyone during this time and he would say that it helped to bring his family's love and strength together. He had fond memories of growing up in Cushing, playing Turkey Lurkey and playing in Ouchie Creek (which he later told his children was bigger than the Mississippi River. It is less that two feet wide).

In 1943 he joined the Navy and was stationed in the South Pacific during WWII. BJ served on a Yard Oiler (YO 144), a concrete barge that fueled ships going into and out of battles. He was fond of telling people that concrete could float because of this. While BJ along with many behind the lines fought the battle of boredom, they all did their duty. He was proud to be a veteran and one man of 16 million men who served in WWII. He always took pride in flying the American Flag and standing to honor the flag.

After WWII ended he was discharged from the Navy in May of 1946. When the government instituted the GI Bill, he enrolled in Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University). A small red headed young girl with a lot spunk and spirit caught his eye on campus and they started to date. On September 5, 1948 he married the love of his life, Dona Mae Kirk. With the sudden influx of veterans going to school housing was at a premium, thus they lived in a literal tar-paper shack the school provided. While it had no running water and only a single burner hot plate, the two were in love and they knew it was temporary. After graduation he went to work for Carter Oil Company (which would later become Exxon). Working in the oil industry was much like being in the military: he never stayed in the same place for long. In Miles City, Montana their daughter Candace was born, and in Casper, Wyoming their son Kevin was born. The family would go on to move to Pennsylvania, Indiana, Michigan and finally back to Oklahoma. In 1986, BJ retired from Exxon, and he and Dona built their dream house in Claremore, Oklahoma. In 2000 they moved to Sun City and became active in the community and developed enduring friendships.. They joined The Worship Place where they honored God created close bonds with their church family.

BJ was preceded in death by his parents, six sisters (Clara Cravens, Beatrice Huck, Reva Gover, Geneva Corbin, Rufetta Browning and Helen Patterson) and one brother Douglas Patterson.

He is survived by wife Dona, one daughter Candace Blair, one son Kevin Patterson, two grandsons Geoffrey and Graeme Blair, as well as several nieces and nephews and a host of family and friends.

BJ never met a stranger and enjoyed visiting with people. He also loved studying the Bible and asking questions to make the Bible Study Teacher look smart. Pastor Kelly Barnett said it best: "Don't bother praying for the next few days, God will be too busy listening to BJ's stories." We love him and will miss him, and with our faith in Jesus, we all look forward to seeing him in Heaven.