Roll Call Tribute

Published in (Fort Worth) Star-Telegram on Apr. 24, 2014

James N. Patterson Jr.(1927 - 2014)
James N. Patterson Jr. passed into a better life Monday, April 21, 2014, at the age of 87. Funeral: 3 p.m. Saturday at Meadowbrook United Methodist Church. Interment: 1 p.m. Saturday in Shannon Rose Hill Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Shannon Rose Hill Funeral Chapel. Memorials: The family would like memorials to be sent to Meadowbrook United Methodist Church or United Way. Jim has left his mark on many aspects of life in the Fort Worth community, his church and civic organizations he supported and especially on his loving family. When you look at the Fort Worth skyline, you can see Jim's professional impact on the community. Jim's professional life of more than 40 years was spent with Thos. S. Byrne Inc., General Contractors, where he rose through the ranks to become president and chief executive officer. He oversaw the building of many Fort Worth landmarks, including Kimbell Art Museum, Amon Carter Museum, the Water Gardens, U.S. Currency Plant, Sundance Square and countless others. Mr. Patterson was a 1948 graduate of Texas A&M College and did post-graduate work at MIT. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy (World War II) and the U.S. Army (Korean War). He served as a leader in civic and industry organizations including the United Way, Association of General Contractors and the North Texas Contractors Association. He served as president of the Exchange Club and was a longtime member of Downtown Rotary, being named a Paul Harris Fellow. Jim was active in Meadowbrook United Methodist Church since 1953. He served in countless roles that ranged from teacher and assistant at Vacation Bible School to chair of finance and Board of Trustees. Jim supported the United Way, for which he served as campaign chair, and served on the board of Carter Blood Care and as a trustee of Texas Wesleyan University. Jim and his wife, Lila, were married 63 years and share a love of gardening and travel and life in general. They shared their love of travel with their children and grandchildren and continued a longstanding tradition of annual family vacations to fun locations. These family vacations have helped foster close relationships between cousins. Jim achieved his goal of visiting all seven continents, while visiting many countries across the world. Jim and Lila are convinced of the value of education and have supported their grandchildren in pursuing their dreams. Jim, or Dad-Dad as he's known by his grandchildren, will be sorely missed, but we are so very grateful for the mark he has made on our lives. The family wishes to thank the staff of Lakewood Skilled Nursing and the Right at Home caregivers for their loving care. Survivors: Wife, Lila; their three children, Deb McGuire and husband, Michael, of Columbus, Ohio, Jim Patterson and wife, Beth, of Houston, and Jana Nelson and husband, Paul, of Monroe, La.; and their seven grandchildren, Meghan, Kati, Lauren, Emily, Donna, Melissa and Aaron.