Roy Bernelle Patton

TILDEN — Roy Bernelle Patton, 97, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, in Mike Conley Hospice House in Clermont, Florida.



Roy was the son of Floyd and Lena Patton. He was born Aug. 9, 1921, in Tilden.



Roy loved God and his family. He lived a wonderful blessed life. God was good to him. As a teenager he was a hard worker, starting his own dairy farm and continued to work hard all his life. While working for Peabody Coal Co., hauling heavy equipment cross country in a tractor trailer, he said he felt like he was on vacation while getting paid for it. His most rewarding endeavor was building a mobile home park and public laundromat, with which prior to that, he had no experience.



He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Clermont, Florida, where he dearly loved his pastors and friends at church.



Roy belonged to Masonic Order of Marissa Lodge 881 for more than 60 years, Valley of So. Illinois Scottish Rite, 32 degree, MSA (Meritorious Service Award), Ainad Shrine of East St. Louis, Illinois. He volunteered driving burned children and their parents from St. Louis Children's Hospital to Shriner's Burn Center in Ohio. He loved pulling Sphinx Club Floats in parades, and did other fundraisers for Children's Hospital in St. Louis. Once retired and moving to Florida, he wondered what took him so long to retire. The warmer climate allowed him to wear walking shorts year round which he loved. While he was able, he loved doing Disney Theme Parks and traveling in an RV. Roy's favorite quote was "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." He was always open to change and never let disappointments hold him back.



Roy is survived by his loving wife, Judy; daughter, Dinah K. Patton; stepdaughter, Debbie S. Bach; grandhildren, Roger B. Patton II, Kim Adams, Robert Lanasky, D. Lyle Miller, Ann E. Allen; stepgrandchildren, Jeaniffer M. Tanner, Cole A. Rieckenberg, Erin S. Carman-Sweeney; great-grandchildren, Cody Adams, Jared Adams, Ethan Adams, Jessica Lanasky, Steven Lanasky, Charlotte Miller, Harrison Miller, Avery Allen; great-stepgrandchildren, Makayla R. Calhoun and Mason A. Tanner.

Roy was preceeded in death by his parents; brother, David R. (D.R.) Patton; sons, Robert J. Patton and Roger B. Patton; granddaughter, Susanne E. Patton; stepdaughter, Julie A. Carman; and stepgranddaughter, Courtney D. Rieckenberg.



Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 2, in Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Following the services, burial will be in Oakland Cemetery.



Contributions can be made in his memory to Shriners Hospital for Children Office of Development, 4400 Clayton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110, 314-432-3600. It is requested donors make sure to ask for memorials to assist the St. Louis Shriners Hospitals for Children, which Roy supported and was involved in.



To share a story or memory of Roy, visit www.meredithfh.com.