WYNELL GILLENW PATTERSON as born on April 15, 1930, in Blooming Grove, Texas, to Drew and Bertha Gillen. After graduating from Blooming Grove High School in 1947, she entered Baylor University where in 3 years she earned her BA degree in Elementary Education. At Baylor University, she began many friendships that remained strong and vibrant through the rest of her life. Ruth, Janine, Joyce, Eloise and later, Anna, were just a few of the Baylor friends that added so much to her life they were treasured blessings. Wynell married her sweetheart, Jim Williams Patterson, on August 4, 1950. They lived in Hubbard; Durant, Oklahoma; Fort Worth; Oklahoma City; Jackson, Mississippi; San Antonio; Dallas; and Salado. While Jims career scanned decades as a Petroleum Landman, Wynells calling was to be a teacher in elementary schools, including for many years in Carrollton-Farmers Branch where she shaped countless young lives through the years. Her teaching was not confined to public schools; she also taught young children in numerous churches throughout her lifetime, including Royal Haven Baptist Church in Dallas and later her beloved First Baptist Church of Salado. Wynell volunteered extensively at the Salado Library and encouraged many in the Village with her generous spirit and gracious actions. Her dear friends and church family were always important to her, especially after the passing of Jim in 2001. Wynell and Jim were recognized as Alumni of the Year in 1996 by the Central Texas Chapter of the Baylor Alumni Association. One of her favorite activities each year was the celebration of the Jim Patterson Memorial Golf Tournament, benefiting the Scholarship Fund of the Central Texas Chapter of the Baylor Alumni Association. Wynell was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Blake, Billy and Charles Drew. Her survivors include son and daughter-in-law, Randy and Phyllis Patterson of San Antonio; son and daughter-in-law, Ken and Lee Patterson of San Antonio; son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Shannon Patterson of Carrollton; daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Greg Stapp of Frisco; grandchildren, Paul and wife, Dawn, Clint, Angela, Sam, Olivia, McKenzie, Reid, Zach, Mason and Drew; sister, Maxine Brown of Lamkin; sisters-in-law, Earldean Patterson, Doris Gillen, Wanda Gillen, Carolyn Gillen and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. More lasting than her many achievements, Wynell will be remembered as a dedicated Christian, a loving wife, a guiding mother, a nurturing grandmother and a trusted friend. Memorials may be made, in lieu of flowers, to the Building Fund of First Baptist Church of Salado,210 South Main, Salado, TX 76571, and to Baylor University, Cen-Tex Chapter Scholarship Fund, One Bear Place #97026, Waco, TX 76798. Visitation will be held Thursday, August 30, from 6:00pm 8:00 pm, at Dossman Funeral Home, 2525 N. Main, P. O. Box 239, Belton, TX 76513. A Memorial Service will be held Friday, August 31, at 11:00 am, at the First Baptist Church of Salado with ministers Brian Dunks, Frank Wallace and Randy Carter Officiating. Graveside Service will precede at 10:00 am in Salado Cemetery. Arrangements by: Dossman Funeral Home Belton, TX254-933-2525

Dallas Morning News - Aug 29, 2007

Wynell Gillen Patterson had a gift for teaching small children. She shaped the lives of countless elementary students as a third-grade teacher in several districts, including Carrollton-Farmers Branch, her family said.

Ms. Patterson, 77, died last Tuesday at her home in Salado after a two-year battle with cancer. Services were Friday at First Baptist Church of Salado.

"She sure did love her job," said her son, Randy Patterson of San Antonio. "She loved teaching."

Ms. Patterson was born and raised in Blooming Grove, Texas. She graduated from Blooming Grove High School in 1947 and continued her education at Baylor University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education three years later.

She married Jim Williams Patterson on Aug. 4, 1950, and the couple moved to Hubbard for Mr. Patterson's job.

Ms. Patterson found work at Hubbard Elementary School, where she taught for one year before the couple moved to Durant, Okla., shortly after the birth of their first son, Randy. Over the next decade, the Pattersons moved from Fort Worth to San Antonio to Oklahoma City before settling in Jackson, Miss., where Ms. Patterson taught at Emma Green Elementary School from 1958 to 1963.

Ms. Patterson was expecting twins, and Mr. Patterson's career called for the family to relocate once again to Oklahoma City in 1963. Three years later, the family moved to Dallas, where Ms. Patterson taught at Akiba Academy of Dallas and Ridgeview Presbyterian Church before finding a home with the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD. She taught third-graders at McLaughlin Elementary School until her retirement in 1982.

"She loved her students. Her students were her life each year of her career," Mr. Patterson said. "She was always encouraging and strived to get the students to do their very best."

Mrs. Patterson taught her own children in the same way, her son said.

"She was always positive and encouraging to us," he said. "She came from a very small town but knew that education was a very important step that each of us needed to take, and she did that herself by going to Baylor and getting her degree," he said.

All four of her children and some of her grandchildren have carried on the Baylor family tradition.

"We have six degrees between the four of us children," Mr. Patterson said. "The love of education was passed on to her grandchildren, too. Three ... of the oldest grandchildren also have six degrees between them," Mr. Patterson said.

Mrs. Patterson's teaching didn't end with the younger students, her daughter said.

"She and my father taught young married couples at the Royal Haven Baptist Church, where our family was longtime members. She really reached all ages," said Karen Stapp of Frisco.

Mrs. Patterson's passion for education influenced her daughter's career path.

"She was more than just a teacher from 8 to 3 every day. She challenged the children to be the best and cared for others," her daughter said. "That inspired me to do that and influence the lives of the students I taught."

Mrs. Patterson was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Patterson, and brothers Blake, Billy and Charles Drew.

In addition to her son and daughter, she is also survived by sons Ken Patterson of San Antonio and Kevin Patterson of Carrollton; a sister, Maxine Brown of Lamkin, Texas; and 10 grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Building Fund of First Baptist Church of Salado, 210 S. Main, Salado, Texas 76571, and to Baylor University, Cen-Tex Chapter Scholarship Fund, One Bear Place No. 97026, Waco, Texas 76798