Margaret M. "Pat" Patterson

Margaret M. (Pat) Patterson, 95, of Lewistown, entered into the arms of Jesus, at 4:45 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, at Valley View Haven, Belleville.

She was born in 1924 in Granville Township, Lewistown, to the late Henry and Maggie Price.  Margaret is survived by her daughter, Irene P. VanTassel, of Lebanon.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by: her husband, Clair A. Patterson, in 1977; a brother, Rush H. Price, in 2004; half-sister, Helen P. Shoop; and her beloved son-in-law, Dennis (Van) VanTassel, in 2000.

Margaret graduated from Lewistown High School, Class of 1942.

She was employed by Washington National Insurance Company as a stenographer and cashier for over 26 years, retiring in 1986, and then worked for various car dealerships in the Lewistown and State College areas.  In 1995, she began working at the Mifflin County Courthouse.  She was a secretary for Children and Youth Services and the Tax Claim Bureau.  Lastly, she scanned and microfilmed records for the Register and Recorder's Office until the position was eliminated in 2008.

Margaret took many courses from the United Methodist Conference in lay speaking throughout her life and was a certified lay speaker from 1971 until 2015.  She was a member of Vira United Methodist Church where she served as lay leader and was interim pastor of Vira and Wagner United Methodist Churches from 2004 until July 2005.

Margaret was a member of the former Ellen Chapel United Methodist Church, where she served as lay leader, teacher, superintendent and assistant superintendent of the Sunday School, and had a perfect attendance record for 33 years.  Under the guidance of the late Rev. McClelland Fortney, she started the Ascension Day Service there in 1971, which has most recently been held at Rhodes Memorial United Methodist Church, where Margaret spoke for many years.

Margaret was also known for her handmade neckties, which she gifted to many government and local officials, including former President George H. Bush, New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Corbett, Pennsylvania Representative Kerry Benninghoff, Mifflin County Commissioners Jim Hilderbrandt, Charles "Yogi" Laub and Jim Beckwith, Mifflin County Treasurer Gerald Hepler, and many others.

Margaret was a friend to everyone and her motto was, "I shall pass through this world but once and any good that I can do or kindness that I may show to any human being, let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."

Viewings will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, and from 10:30 to 11 a.m., Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at Heller-Hoenstine Funeral Homes, Woodlawn, 200 N. Main St., Lewistown.

The funeral service will begin at 11 a.m., Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, with Rev. Rachel Horst and Rev. Tom Morningstar officiating.

Interment will take place at Juniata Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Margaret's memory may be made to:

Rhodes Memorial United Methodist Church, 500 Highland Ave., Lewistown, PA 17044

(Survived and alive since 1905, Rhodes Memorial UMC has been a beacon upon the hill for over 114 years.)

Or To:

Valley View Retirement Community Endowment Fund, 4702 E. Main St., Belleville, PA 17004

(The interest derived from the endowment fund is used to support those who have exhausted their funds.)

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