Orr E. Patterson

Orr E. Patterson [aka Pat, Gene] of Denver Colorado, passed away at the age of 86 from natural causes on 9/19/21.

Orr was born to Clayton Patterson on 7/9/35 in Little Rock Arkansas. His parents divorced when he was an infant and he was raised by his Father Clayton and his paternal grandmother Nellie Brown in Blackwell Oklahoma.

He entered the United States Air Force [USAF]at the age of 17. During his miltary career he was afforded the opportunity to visit every country in the world with the exception of 3. He served in both Korea and Vietnam. Part of his service included specialized training to become a flight engineer. He then flew Military Airlift Command airplanes as the flight engineer. He served a total of 30 years in the USAF, 20 years active duty and 10 years reserves. Serving in the military was a great source of pride for him through out his life.

Orr retired from the USAF after 20 years and made Enid Oklahoma his home. He went to work for Failings as a painter and later Northrup which was at Vance Air Force Base. There he worked on airplanes and eventually he accepted a position in management.

In 1995 he relocated to Denver Colorado as a widower to be near his children Beverely and Cheri. It was at this time he met and married his current wife of 25 years Nancy Patterson.

Another area of great success and a source of pride of was his 40 plus years of sobriety. His way of giving back was to be a mentor/sponsor for others.

He had a great love of all animals, whether it was an injured pigeon he rescued from the side of the road or an animal he bought/adopted. His daughters knew if they could coax a stray into following them home they would have a new pet to add to the household.

He had a fantastic sense of humor and loved getting in the last word. In his last days he told his granddaughter Jessica he had a dream and neither of his 2 daughters would be able to attend his funeral but that was ok! She reminded him that her mother was deceased, and he thought about it a moment and replied "I'm still right, she won't be able to make it". Well, both will be there, one physically and the other spiritually. Without a doubt he is with his own father and daughter watching over everyone now.

He loved his family, enjoyed boating, fishing and a good barbecue. He absolutely loved teasing people and everyone he met was a friend.

He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and was a Eucharistic Minister. He enjoyed visiting individuals in their homes and providing communion to those who were ill or homebound. He continued with his duties until his health prevented him from doing so.

He is preceded in death by his father Clayton Patterson, his eldest daughter Beverely Miller and brother Cecil Murray Jr.

He is survived by his wife Nancy Patterson, daughter Cheri [Mike] Finley, granddaughter Jessica [Jacob] Miller-Newell, grandson Mark [Vanessa] Miller, great grandsons Zachariah Miller and Isaac Miller.

Additionally he is survived by siblings Maurice Hess, Georgie Lively, Marilyn Adkins, Loretta Ory, Orista Bednorz, Rosa Davis, Elsie Stump, Morris Patterson, Louis Patterson and numerous neices and nephews.

Military services will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery on 10/13/21.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation in his name to any agency that serves Veterans.