Frank & Bright Funeral Home
Kenny Patterson
Oct 8th, 1945 - Sep 1st, 2015Kenny Patterson, age 69, of Xenia, Illinois, passed away on Tuesday, September 1, 2015, at his home in Xenia.
Kenny was born October 8, 1945, in Flora, IL to Earl and Lena (Sanders) Patterson. He married Joy Kaye Colvin on March 8, 1969 in Flora.
From 1976 to 1984, Kenny and Joy owned Peavlers Shopping Center at the West Y in Flora. He also worked as a roughneck in the oilfield with Leon Perry. Kenny began his truck driving career in 1978 and was an owner-operator till 1991, when he became a company driver for Bulkmatic. He drove for Inway, Bulkmatic, Carry Transit, Crete Carriers, and finished his career at home with a local company, Ed Lewis Trucking. Kenny won Top Driver of the Year Award with Inway and was a driver trainer for 13 years with Bulkmatic Transport, where he placed second out of 53 drivers in the company truck rodeo in 1999. Kenny loved the freedom of the road, driving 4 ½ million miles over the years, and always made a friend wherever he stopped. Kenny’s other love was following his favorite baseball team, the Chicago Cubs.
He is survived by his wife: Joy Patterson of Xenia; children: Brian Patterson, Eric Patterson (Wendy Swatosh), Michelle (Larry) Meares, Michael (Mindy) Patterson; grandchildren: Brandon, Bethani, Donnie, Carissa, Haley, Tabitha, Jordan, Gabi, and Anabelle; great-grandchildren: Tanner, Miayah, Jayden, Lyric, Braylon, Sutton, Justice, Jaelyn, Alexis, Peyton, Noah, Parker, and Claire; one sister: Betty (Duane) Bryant of Flora; three sisters-in-law: Ruby Bohlen of Champaign, Gertie Patterson of Flora, and Jo Reynolds of Whittier, CA. He was preceded in death by his parents, 4 brothers, and 2 sisters.
A Celebration of Life Service for Kenny Patterson will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 12, 2015, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora with a gathering of friends prior to the service from 10-11 a.m. Memorial donations may be given to the family to assist with expenses and may be sent to Frank & Bright Funeral Home, 500 N. Main St., Flora, IL 62839. Online condolences may be sent to www.frankandbright.com.