Jean Patterson Arnold, 90, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011, at Good Shepherd Hospice Forsythe Center in Auburndale.

She was born in Argyle, Ga., on
Nov. 13, 1921, to William Jasper and Iva (Sweat) Patterson, and was raised in Homerville, Ga. She married Needham Arnold and they moved to Baldwin, Fla.

Mrs. Patterson worked for Florida Telephone Corp., also known as United Telephone Co., as a telephone operator.
She lived in Zephyrhills, moving to Ocala in 1973, and retiring in 1986. In 2008 she moved to Bartow to live with her niece. She was a Methodist.

She loved to sew, and was an excellent seamstress, having learned from her mother at an early age. Mrs. Patterson also enjoyed antiques, gardening, travel, keeping company with family and good friends, playing cards, and a good cup of coffee.

Mrs. Patterson was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, “Mackie” Patterson, William (Billy) “Red” Patterson, Martha Sue Patterson Hurn and Nell Patterson Jones; and her husband.

Survivors include her nieces, Jean (Hurn) Linn-Gettel and husband Gerald of Bartow, Billie Sue Patterson Hinson and husband Wylie of Homerville, Ga., Elizabeth “Libby” Patterson Eickelman, as well as other loving nieces
and nephews; and her dear friend,
Colleen Green and husband Marvin
of Belleview.

A celebration of Jean’s life will be held at a later date in Homerville.

Arrangements: Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services, Ocala, and Roundtree Funeral Home, Homerville, Ga.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Boys Ranch, FL 32064.