Barbara Patterson
Early in the morning on October 3, 2021, Barbara Yvonne Patterson, (maiden name Thompson) passed from this world to be with Christ Jesus, her friend, and savior. Barbara was born in Keota, Oklahoma on July 7, 1941, to former Haskell County Commissioner Jim Thompson and his wife Mildred. She had a passion for horses and enjoyed riding through the hills and valleys of the Oklahoma territory. As a young girl, she was an athletic barrel racer, pigtails flying without fear of falling. She graduated from Stigler High school in 1958 followed by two years of college at Central Bible School in Missouri. She was then married to Thomas Goulder of Detroit, Michigan and together they had three children, Rebecca, Michael and Jonathan.
Her early career was as an interpreter for the deaf in the Washington D.C. area. Later she moved to Tucson, Arizona, and enrolled in the Desert Institute of Healing Arts, and was awarded a massage therapist license. One of her unfulfilled dreams was to become a nurse, so she paid special attention to learning anatomy. Despite having stopped college to get married and have three children, she excelled in her studies. Barbara had a kind touch and a caring heart for those in pain or need.
In 1978 Barbara was reunited with her childhood sweetheart, Curtis Patterson. The two were soon married and inseparable until her passing. She never lost the excitement of being on the go and enjoyed her time traveling and moving across the United States with Curtis and their ever-present large, but lovable dogs. Barbara was never without a new hat or a faithful dog by her side.
In later years as her health declined, she traded her anatomy books for the scriptures, reading between phone calls to friends and family members. Some people go through life doing the same thing in the same place for all or most of their life, but Barbara drew a wide circle from Stigler, around the United States, and back again, retiring in Stigler in 2006. With a flair for the theatrical, the day of her passing was as unpredictable as her life.
Barbara was blessed and survived by her husband Curtis and three wonderful siblings, Jacqueline Jason (Ron) of Stigler Ok, Howard Thompson (Marilyn) of Fancy Gap, Virginia and Linda McVay (David) of Phoenix, Arizona.
Barbara is also survived by her three children, Rebecca Thompson (Scott), of Tucson, Arizona, Mike Goulder (Meaghan) of Boise, Idaho, Jonathan Goulder (Pam), of Bellevue, Washington, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Barbara will someday reunite with the love of her life, husband Curtis Patterson, originally of Garland, Oklahoma. She is also survived by Curtis’s four children, Cheryl, Debbie, Andy, and Cindy.
Viewing will be held at Mallory-Martin Funeral Home in Stigler from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, October 6; from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm on Thursday and Friday, October 7 and 8; with Family Visitation from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday.
Funeral Services will be held at Mallory Chapel in Stigler at 10:00 am on Saturday, October 9, 2021 with Rev. Howard Thompson officiating. Interment will follow at Tamaha Cemetery under the direction of Mallory-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory of Stigler.