Joan Elizabeth Patterson

Joan Elizabeth Patterson was born at home 5 miles North of Carnegie on November 15, 1934, to Herman E. and Wilma (Merritt) Millwee. She passed away, Thursday, May 21, 2026, at River Oaks Nursing Home in El Reno, OK at the age of 91. Joan grew up in Carnegie, Oklahoma, spending the first 8 years of school at a two Room County School (Prairie Lone) where not only her siblings and she attended, but her parents and their siblings attended, and graduated from Carnegie High School with the Class of 1952.  She was united in marriage to Billy Don Patterson on April 18, 1953, at the United Methodist Church in Carnegie, Oklahoma. He preceded her in death on April 15, 2015, in Yukon, Oklahoma.  Joan and Billy lived a short time in Chickasha before making their home in Carnegie. In 1980, they moved to Corn, Oklahoma, where they lived until 1986 when they moved to Hinton. Joan continued living in the same home they purchased at that time.  Joan worked for the United States Postal Service for 31 years, serving the communities of Carnegie, Corn and Hinton before retiring in 1993. She enjoyed working Sudoku puzzles and after retiring, helped with grandchildren Alicia and Kyle and going to school events and rodeos. She devoted much of her life to caring for her husband, Billy, serving as his full-time go-fer and caregiver for 62 years. Joan was a member of the Carnegie Mother’s Club, NARFE, United Methodist Women, and the First United Methodist Church of Hinton.
She is survived by two children, Rick Patterson of Altus, Oklahoma, and Diana Patterson-Smith and husband Terry of Hinton, Oklahoma; two grandchildren, Alicia Pool and husband Chris of Yukon, Oklahoma, and Kyle Patterson and wife Kelsey of Springer, Oklahoma; two great-grandchildren, Kole and Kash Patterson; siblings, Doris Knauss and husband Karl of Falconcrest, OK, Ivan Millwee of Claiborne, Texas, and Carl Millwee of The Woodlands, Texas; and nephew Dale Hancock of Edmond, Oklahoma, and many other nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Billy Don Patterson; brothers, Roy and Don Millwee; sister, Erlene Hancock; and brother, Billy Millwee.
Memorial donations may be made to: Carnegie Memorial Building Fund, PO BOX 1061, Carnegie, OK 73015, or Hinton Fire & Rescue, Hinton, 115 S Broadway, Hinton, OK 73047, or Hinton First United Methodist Women, 222 W Market St, Hinton, OK 73047
Services will be held at the First United Methodist Church Tuesday, 10:30 am, May 26, 2026 in Hinton, Oklahoma, with Rev. Gary Haynes officiating. Burial will follow at Carnegie Cemetery Tuesday, 2:00 pm, May 26, 2026 in Carnegie, Oklahoma.