of Harrison, AR

September 27, 1925 - December 22, 2017

Don M. Patton, age 94 of Harrison, Arkansas, passed away Friday July 7th, 2017. The son of the late Elijah and Annie Patton, he was born on "a hot day in July" 23rd, 1922 in the White Oak community, Bergman, AR. He is preceded in death by his brother Eldon Patton and sisters Erma Guinn and Phyllis Magness.

Don's love of his life, Gwendolyn Madge, passed from this earth on Friday December 22nd, 2017 at the age of 92. The daughter of Edgar and Lena Hutcheson, Gwendolyn Madge was born September 27th, 1925 in Harrison, AR. She was preceded in death by her brother Bob Hutcheson.

They are survived by their sons and daughter in laws, Mike and Brenda Patton and Roger and Georgie Patton of Harrison, AR. They had four grandchildren along with their spouses. Holly and Doug Becker of Harrison, AR, Scotty and Shanna Patton of Springdale, AR, Dr. Heather and Eric Hudkins of Springfield, MO, Jodi and Travis Boyd of Webb City, MO. They also had 10 great grandchildren, Hannah Mulford, Annie Patton, Dalton Mulford, Quiency Patton, Ashlynn Boyd, Cooper Boyd, Alex Hudkins, Brody Becker, Noah Hudkins, and Ethan Hudkins. They had 2 great-great grandchildren Daxton and Bo.

Don was born on the family farm in the White Oak community where they raised sheep, cattle, and Percheron horses. At a very young age, Don and his brother were each assigned a team of horses to plow the land to raise crops and to help provide for the family living. Don entered the military during World War II and served a short time prior to being discharged so that he could return home to aid and support his elderly parents. Thereafter, he started working bridge & road construction. Early on he worked to completion on the construction of the Bull Shoals dam then later progressed to his career as the superintendent of bridge and road construction on interstate and state highways. After a long career working all around Arkansas, he then retired from construction and moved to Harrison where he started his own backhoe business. Don resided on his farm raising cattle and still plowed his garden with his horse ''Ripper''. He served as the Bergman Mayor for 30 years. During his term as mayor he was instrumental having city/rural water provided to Bergman and the surrounding area. He was instrumental in working to have the Tyson Feed Mill established in Bergman, AR. in 1987 thus providing a source of local revenue and employment for the residents in the surrounding area. He also appreciatively served as a deacon of the Bergman Church of Christ.

Gwendolyn was born at home where she was raised by her parents at their Conoco country store on the corner of Zinc road and Hwy 7. She was a loving and supporting wife, she was a homemaker, raised her children, and then proceeded to take care of her grandchildren. She loved to sew, quilt, crochet, embroidery, cook, and do canning. She was famous for her rolls, pies, and butter rolls. She loved planting flowers and taking care of her yard.

They were married on September 15th, 1942 in the White Oak community. Not long after, they traveled to the state of Washington to work picking apples prior to returning to the Bergman area. They loved to garden, go to church, camping, shopping, and Don's weekly highlight was taking Madge to get her hair done "The Torture Pit" as he called it. They shared their entire lives together where they were inseparable thus the reason neither one of them wanted to go to the other's funerals. They wanted nothing more than to be laid to rest together as "One."

Our family is saddened by the loss of these two wonderful people whose love for their family was always their top and foremost priority with unbending commitment. The loss of the love and knowledge from their passing leaves an unfillable void for those closest to them. Mom and Dad, even though you have earned us saying "thanks" on so many occasions, we want to say one final thanks for getting to have you in our lives and that we will always remember you - everyday.

Memorial service was Friday, December 29, 2017, at Bergman Church of Christ with Dr. Larry Keener officiating.

Interment was in Maplewood Cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers were their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Sign Guestbook

8 Condolence(s)