PEARL L. PATTERSON

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla., and ABBOT – Pearl L. Patterson, 81, wife of the late Vern A. Patterson of Abbot, died Oct. 28, 2009, at Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital, Tarpon Springs, Fla., after a brief illness. Her daughters, Brenda Larson and Cathy Grant; and grandson, Shandy Larson and his wife, Kasia, were with her when she peacefully fell asleep in death. She had been a resident at Tarpon Bayou Center for the past nine years. Pearl was born Dec. 13, 1927, in Greenville, and was the daughter of Charles H. Cann and Marjory (MacDougal) Cann of Guilford. She grew up in Guilford and attended schools there with her two brothers and two sisters. Pearl was a beautiful person; she raised five children of her own and half the neighborhood kids. She loved kids; there were always plenty of them around. She was a great cook and loved to make cakes, cookies, fudge, doughnuts and our favorite Pineapple Whip; we all had a sweet tooth. Oh, how I miss her yeast bread. Walking home from (Abbot) school, when I got to the post office I could smell her fresh baked bread. She always had something baking in the oven. Pearl suffered a stroke many years ago, in fact, the year my dad retired. He took care of her until his death in 2000. She came to Florida knowing she would be living in a nursing facility; she adjusted quickly and became a hit in her new home. They all called her Pearly and loved her good nature and smiling face. She brought them so much joy, as they did her. “She will be missed so much, she is our family,” said one staff member. She loved Dum-Dum lollipops and always carried a bag of them in her wheelchair. She shared with everyone. The day after she died, all of the staff and residents were walking around with Dum-Dum’s in their mouths in remembrance of Pearl. She was predeceased by her parents; sisters, Myrtle Woodson and Shirley Judkins; and brother, Alden Cann. She is survived by her brother, Seldon “Harvey” Cann and his wife, Brenda, of Indiana; a sister-in-law, Diana (McEwen) Patterson of Skowhegan; one son, John Patterson and his wife, Ramona, of Abbot; daughters, Linda Drinkwater and her husband, Jim, of Guilford, Patricia Barnes of Arkansas, Brenda Larson and her husband, Skip, of Florida and Cathy Grant and her husband, Timmy, of Arizona; and one very special niece, Bonnie Brawn of Dover-Foxcroft, who never forgot a birthday, Christmas or Mother’s Day. She had eight grandchildren, John Patterson of Guilford, Lori Bell of Dexter, Richard Barnes of Arkansas, Bobbie-Jean Phillips of Arkansas, Michaela Larson of Florida, Shannon Larson of Florida, T.J. Grant of Arizona and Brianne Ryan of Arizona; three stepgrandsons, Chris, Jamie and Tom Drinkwater of Guilford; 26 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, several nieces and nephews. There will be a graveside service in the spring so all family members can attend. A service notice will be published at a later date by Crosby & Neal Funeral Home, Guilford. Interment will be at Lawn Cemetery, Guilford. For an online guest register, go to www.CrosbyNeal.com.