Stevan Eli Patterson, age 68, died of cancer at Chilton Medical Center on March 2, 2010.

He was born on Aug. 14, 1941 in Lipscomb. He graduated from Sylacauga High School in 1960.

While in high school, he served in the Alabama National Guard and upon graduation enlisted in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and served on active duty from 1960 to 1963 as a Medical Corpsman.

After completing his U.S. Army active duty and reserve commitment, he joined the Alabama Air National Guard and served several years at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, working as a non-commissioned officer in base telecommunications.

He was proud of serving our country for more than 13 years.

He began working for Southern Bell Telephone Company in Montgomery in 1963 and retired from BellSouth in Birmingham in 1996.

After retirement, he worked for BellSouth as a contract employee for several years before joining Momentum Telecom in Birmingham, where he retired from in 2005.

He was preceded in death by his beloved son, Todd Patterson, and beloved cousin, Ralph Patterson, as well as his father, aunts, uncles and grandparents, all from Jefferson County.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Sue Nivens Patterson; his daughter, Sherry Brenizer (Craig), and grandchildren Todd and Lydia, Foley; mother, Edythe Connell, Holtville; sister, Laura Mitchell (Sammy), Holtville; two brothers, Jeff Connell (Vicki), Beaumont, Texas, and Gerald Patterson (Jane), Talladega; three nieces and two nephews.

He felt truly blessed for having wonderful friends who helped him during his months of illness. He wanted to express appreciation to churches and individuals who lifted up his name in prayer during his illness.

A Celebration of Life for Stevan will be held at Martin Funeral Home in Clanton on Saturday, March 6 at 11 a.m. with family visitation at 10 a.m. with the Rev. William (Bill) King of Trinity Episcopal Church.

Stevan’s remains will be entered at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Sylacauga at a later date.

No flowers; memorial may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, 503 Second Ave. South, Clanton, AL 35045 or Chilton County Humane Society, 139 Shade Tree Drive, Clanton, AL 35045.