Obituary of Edwin "Dick" R Patterson

Edwin “Dick” Richard Patterson Jr., of Hoodsport, passed away at home, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017. Dick was born May 11, 1932 in Big Timber, Montana to the late Edwin Patterson and Thelma (Carlson) Patterson. He married Peggy Jean Reinhart Dec. 31, 1960 at First Presbyterian Church in Conrad, Montana. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Dick served his country during the Korean War and received an honorable discharge in 1953. Upon his discharge, Dick returned to his hometown to help his father with the family welding and blacksmith business. Some time after, he worked as a journeyman pipefitter for more than a decade at Montana Power. Dick pursued a bachelor’s degreeat Montana State University in English and drama, and became an educator, teaching in school districts in both Montana and Washington. He later pursued advanced degrees in counseling at Washington State University and Portland State University. While serving as a counselor at Tacoma Community College, Dick and his wife Peggybegan operating the Treasure Chest, a gift shop on Hood Canal in 1973. They also started making wine, leading to the founding of Hoodsport Winery. Dick was anenthusiastic storyteller, woodworker and silver jewelry smith who enjoyed fly-fishing, cooking, and gathering with friends and family in fellowship. He was a member of Skyline Presbyterian Church in Tacoma, where he and fellow members helped build achurch with Rev. Al Davis. This was one of his most memorable and rewarding experiences. Dick would have liked you to know the thing in life that he was most proud of was his family, particularly his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was also very proud of his wife Peggy and their 56-year marriage. The achievements he wanted to be remembered by include his career as a teacher and counselor, and his work in 1970s Tacoma with the desegregation movement. Dick worked with both the schools and the religious community to build churches and pave the way for more equal access to education. OfHoodsport Winery’s medals, awards and articles, he was most proud of the write-ups in Wine Spectator magazine and a Cabernet Sauvignon that won a gold medal at an international wine competition in France—proving that Washington wines were as good as any from California or Europe. Survivors include wife Peggy Patterson, of Hoodsport; daughter and son-in-law Ann (Patterson) and Mike Flanery, of Bremerton; son and daughter-in-law Richard and Yasmina (Ahmedi) Patterson, of Bellevue; daughter Colleen Patterson, of Portland, Oregon; daughter Evelyn Jo (Patterson) McGraw, of Clinton, Montana; granddaughter and grandson-in-law Miranda (Patterson-Graham) and David Elliott, of Ada, Oklahoma; granddaughter Alicia Johnson, of Shelton; grandsons Michael, Christopher and Matthew Patterson, of Bellevue; granddaughters Ciara and Brooke Flanery, of Bremerton; great grandchildren Serena and Silas Elliott, of Ada, Oklahoma; brother and sister-in law Carl and Clarnelle Patterson, of Montana; niece and nephew Deyla Schneider and Jason Peck, of Shelton; and numerous other nieces and nephews. A memorial service will take place Saturday, Nov. 18, at 1 p.m. at Hood Canal Community Church, 81 N. Finch Creek Road in Hoodsport, Washington.