Jimmy Ray Patton

JIMMIE RAY PATTON Memorial services for longtime area resident Jimmie Ray Patton will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, September 23 at the Montezuma Valley Presbyterian Church with Reverend Steve Nofel officiating. Jim was born in Pueblo, Colo. on October 10, 1934 to Ernest Everett and Roberta Lenore (Yowell) Patton. He passed away at Vista Grande Inn on Wednesday, September 16, 2015. Jim was 80 years old. Four years after graduating from Dolores High School, Jim Patton wondered if the Lord was calling him into formal ministry. He had already received an arts degree in business and explored the world of geology at Fort Lewis College in Durango and Westminster College in Salt Lake City. Four years later he had his answer when he graduated from the San Francisco Theological Seminary, and returned the next year for an advanced degree in Biblical Theology. Summers were busy with church programs, and the Ranchers' Camp Meeting program under the Board of National Missions of the Presbyterian Church. On August 28, 1960 Jim stepped into the sanctuary here at Montezuma Valley Presbyterian Church and was ordained a minister. Also occupying Jim's attention during this time was classmate Charlene. Charlene was pursuing an education in Christian Education at the seminary in San Francisco. They were married in the fall of 1960, and leaving the very next day drove to Whitlash, Mont. where Jim took up his post as Pastor and Sunday School Missionary. Actually Jim says the ministry was a mobile ministry on the Montana-Canadian border that included four more churches. The Patton's (Yes, all piled into the car!) wore out tires covering 30, 000 to 40, 000 miles per year. Jim's career as pastor included churches in South Dakota, Colorado, and one in Auke Bay (North Juneau), Alaska to accept a call to the Chapel by The Lake. The Chapel was a popular location for weddings due to the magnificent view of Auke Lake and Mendenhall Glacier. A scene Jim and Charlene enjoyed every morning when they woke up. Jim recalls that he celebrated approximately 200 weddings at the Chapel. After seven years at the Chapel, the Patton family moved into the downtown Juneau area and Jim opened a counseling service. Missing the parish ministry, Jim and Charlene left Alaska and Jim was installed as pastor in Northwest Montana. Then moving to Billings he and Charlene worked in partnership as directors of Christian Education for Presbyteries of Glacier and Yellowstone in Montana. Jim retired in 1996 and he and Charlene moved to their property on the Dolores River. It wasn't long before they were off again while Jim served as interim pastor for several churches. As Jim often said, "You retire, but you don't quit!" Surviving Jim are his beloved wife, Charlene Patton of Cortez; his children, John Patton and wife, Jan of Durango, Colo., Virginia "Ginger" Blaisdell and husband, Dave, and Amanda "Mandy" Holland and husband, Selmon, all of Juneau, Alaska; by five grandchildren and one great grandchild; and by his siblings, John Patton and wife, Charlieen, and Norma "Carol" Orrell, all of Cortez. Memorial contributions can be made in memory of Jim Patton with the Montezuma Valley Presbyterian Church.