Diana Patterson

Our Mother, Diana Patterson, passed away suddenly on Thursday, May 23, 2024. She was in the middle of a conversation when her heart just stopped. Diana had battled AFIB and congestive heart failure for over 5 years.

Diana, age 83, was born at the Mena Hospital to Thurman and Cova Daniel on January 7, 1941. She lived in Cove with her mother and went to Vandervoort and Cove schools. She started 1st grade at age 5 and skipped 2nd grade so was 2 years younger than her classmates. By age 12 she was 5’11” and became a girls basketball star. After graduation in 1957, she was recruited by a semi-pro women’s basketball league, but her mother thought she was too young to be off traveling the world, so she got married instead.

During her children’s preschool life, Diana was a homemaker while living in 5 different states. Once the kids were all in school, she became a bus driver in order to be on their class schedule. When the family moved back to Cove in1978, Diana worked as a bookkeeper for Brodix, Inc and Street & Performance in Mena. She loved to travel and take trips for genealogy research and visiting friends and family along with the sights of America.

Diana is preceded in death by  her husband, Claude “Bud” Patterson; her parents Thurman and Cova Daniel; two sisters, Nixby Kannady and Jeanette Smith; and two brothers, “PJ” Jean Daniel and Tom Daniel.

Diana is survived by her three children, Karen Towery of Mena; Roger Towery and wife Lisa of Naples, Italy; and Tim Towery of Winston-Salem, NC. She has three grandchildren: Christien Towery of Boulder City, NV; Matthew Towery of Palm Beach, Florida; and Michael Towery with wife Corrine of Lexington KY. Three great-grandchildren blessed her life: Charlotte Ashkins, Norah and Chandler Towery. Diana had 6 stepchildren: Caroline Patterson, Steve Patterson, Beth Wallen, Keith Patterson, Nina Morgan and Julie Massey. She was always up for family gatherings, reunions, and holiday events.

Diana was completely committed to the lives of her kids. She supported them in sports, music lessons, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and school events. There wasn’t a time she wasn’t in the audience or behind the scenes if her children were presenting or participating, whether it be as children or adults.

Friendly, flirty, and fun, Diana was an outgoing, social butterfly who did not meet a stranger and loved playful sarcasm and joking. She enjoyed serving on Van-Cove Reunion and church committees as well as making her famous rolls for dinners, potlucks, and holidays.

Singing country music was her love and she would burst out in song while driving, cooking or hanging out with some musician friends. Mom always had a quick smile for everyone and made an impression on everyone she met.

She will be forever missed by her family and friends but forever remembered for her sweetness, love, and hugs. Many thanks of gratitude to her home aide, Julie Clark, for her care and love of our mother as well as support for the family.

A graveside funeral service will be held on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 2:00 PM at the Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Cove, Arkansas with Pastor Bill Seitz of the First Presbyterian Church of Mena officiating. All family and friends are invited. No visitation is planned.

Online Guestbook: www.bowserffh.com

About Author

Ethan Nahté

See author's posts