Obituaries : Claire Patterson

Claire Patterson, 84, of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Fairfax, died Monday, July 13, 2015, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Private family services will be held followed by interment at Fairfax Cemetery.

Claire was born Aug. 10, 1930, at Dennison, Iowa, to Loyal and Claire (Gunn) Johnson. On Oct. 8, 1949, she was united in marriage to Leroy "Pat" Patterson in Knoxville, Iowa. They lived most of their married life in Fairfax and enjoyed camping and traveling in their motorhome and wintering in south Texas. "Pat" preceded her in death in 1993. She moved to Texas following his death and lived there 19 years where she met her companion, Gerald Midgett, and the two of them enjoyed many years together until his death in 2013.

Before her retirement in 1992, Claire was employed on the assembly line for 30 years at Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids.

She is survived by her sons, David (Marleen) Patterson of Atkins, Dan (Deb) Patterson and Timothy C. Patterson, all of Cedar Rapids; and her daughters, Rhonda (Mike) Lyons of Belleville, Ill., and Kelly (Brandon) Gulick of Belle Plaine; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and her sister, Peggy Maston of Newton.

In addition to her parents, her husband, Leroy; and her companion, Gerald; she was preceded in death by her brother, Sonny Johnson.

Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone is assisting Claire's family and condolences may be left at www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com.