Meryl Dorothy Cook Patterson, 89

Meryl Dorothy Cook Patterson died Sept. 14, 2013, in Butte, while surrounded by family members after a short illness.

She was born April 26, 1924, in San Diego to Walter Vernon Cook and Lillie Joahanna Hall Cook.

She attended San Diego High School, graduating in 1942. She was very active in sports, where she played hardball baseball and nearly pursued a career in professional baseball! She also excelled in tennis and badminton.

She attended San Diego State College for two years where she was a song leader and a member of Phi Sigma Nu sorority. After her father's death, she left college to work for the U.S. Weather Bureau in San Diego, transferring to the 10th Naval District in San Francisco until the end of World War II. Meryl went on to attend the University of California, Berkeley and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in social work in 1947.

While working as a medical social worker in San Diego, she met and married her soul mate, Dr. James L. Patterson. As an army physician, Jim was deployed to Tokyo with Meryl at his side in 1949.

While in Japan, she acquired a love of oriental culture and received a degree in Japanese flower arranging. She also volunteered for the American Red Cross and when Jim was sent to Korea, she remained in Tokyo and assisted arriving, wounded UN troops, and the families of departed soldiers.

In 1951, they returned home to Los Angeles where daughter Leslie and son Jim were born. In 1958, they moved to Butte where they established their lifetime home. In Butte, Meryl was an active member of the community. She was a founding board member for the Art Chateau, membership chairman for the Community Concert Association for 16 years and served on its board, as well as serving on the Community Hospital Advisory Board. She was an active member of St. John's Episcopal Church and the Silver Bow Medical Auxiliary.

In 1965, Meryl and Jim purchased property on Flathead Lake. Every summer since, they enjoyed spending time at their cabin with family, friends and neighbors.

Meryl enjoyed hobbies of downhill skiing, hiking, traveling, Japanese landscape gardening and decorating her home with oriental accents.

Meryl was preceded in death by her mother and father; son, James Patterson III; and brother, Walter Vernon Cook; also by brother-in-law, Johnny Laborde; and nephew, Albert Schoenberger.

She is survived by her husband, James Patterson; daughter, Leslie Selin and husband, Lonny, of Salt Lake City; daughter-in-law, Michelle Patterson of Bigfork; grandchildren, Kari Selin, Kelsey Selin and Samuel Patterson, sister, Elizabeth Laborde, sister-in-law, Shirley Cook, niece, Barbara Schoenberger, and nephew, John Laborde and wife Kathy, all of San Diego.

In accordance with her requests, cremation has taken place at Butte Crematories.

Church services for Meryl will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 27 at St. John's Episcopal Church in Butte.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the following charities: Highlands Hospice, United Way, Flathead Lakers, Episcopal Relief & Development or a charity of one's choice.

Axelson Alternative Cremation is privileged to serve the Patterson family.