Obituary of Jacob Smiley Patterson

Jacob Smiley Patterson was born in Coos Bay, OR on Sept. 30th 1970 to parents Jacob and Cheryl Patterson.  He grew up in Klamath Falls, OR until high school, then moved to Silverton, OR.  Jay graduated from Silverton High School in 1989.  In Klamath Falls, Jay enjoyed being part of the swim team. 

Jay worked for Washington Inventory Service as a Production Supervisor until 2000.  He then worked for the Statesman Journal as a Assistant/District Manager until he became disabled.

Jay met Katie Parsek at Washington Inventory Service.  The got married a year after dating on Nov. 4th, 1997.  They were married 24 yrs.  Katie remembers Jay was so nervous when he asked her for her hand in marriage.  Jay and Katie raised three beautiful children together in Salem, Or.  Victoria (23) & Brad Morris, Jacob (JJ) Patterson (22), Paul Patterson (18).  Jay and Katie also have two angel babies in Heaven resulting from miscarriages.

Jay enjoyed spending time with his wife and kids and talked and gushed about them to everyone.  He was a wonderful husband and a proud father.  In Jay’s later years he was not in good health, but Jay made sure not to let that hinder in anyway the love and time he showed both his wife and kids. 

Katie took care of Jay the last 15 years of his life.  Jay had several medical conditions but that did not stop him in anyway.  He always said “laughter is the best medicine”.  He also said “he was not sick, there were people far worse than he ever was”.  He use to use Katie in his jokes like saying that she was his pillow if he fell.  Or calling her “Cruella” because of her graying hair.

Jay was always a character but he would argue on how to say a few words like “traspassing”, “ cray—on”.  Also technology was not his strong suit.  He use to say when he had a question to “go on that world wide web thingy to find it”.  Trying to teach him stuff on the phone was almost impossible, he would never remember. 
Jay also enjoyed taking the family to the beach.  They also would go on drives and “get lost” on logging roads around Oregon.  Jay also drove them across country to Illinois to Texas to Nevada to California and back up to Oregon to see family.  It would not be unusual to drive down 101 into California for Jay and Katie with the kids every couple of years.

Jay and Katie went to South Salem Church of the Nazarene for 16 yrs.  Jay was baptized there after giving his life to the Lord.  Jay really enjoyed going to the summer barbecues, block parties, trunk or treat, and when they had soup and bread meals in winter months.  Jay had a kind, soft heart for everyone because of his relationship with the Lord.  Both Jay and Katie made it important to raise their kids in the church.  They also believed in themselves and the kids helping in different local charities and giving to others less fortunate.

Jay passed away peacefully at Salem Hospital surrounded by family on January 8th, 2022, he was 51 yrs old.

He is pre-deceased by Jacob and Marie Patterson (grandparents), David Whitcomb (grandfather), Paul Parsek (grandfather-in-law), Jacob Patterson (father), aunts: Stella Gleich, Patty Nelson, Eddie Crawford, siblings-in-law Adam Ramsey, Sherry Brock and nephew Lukas Parsek (5).

He is survived by his wife Katie Patterson (44), children Victoria (23) & Brad Morris, Jacob Patterson (22), Paul Patterson (18).  His mother Cheryl Patterson (72), siblings Shelley (52) & Patrick Moore, John (50) & Sherry Patterson.  Several nieces and nephews, and cousins.

A public memorial will be held at South Salem Church of the Nazarene on January 23, 2022 at 2:30pm.

The family would like to give special thanks to Fresenius West Salem Dialysis Clinic, Dr. Ken Park and Dr. Mark Cabrera of Kaiser Permanente, First Call In Home Care, and South Salem Church of the Nazarene.

 

 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The American Kidney Fund @  American Kidney Fund