John Patterson, Jr

John Lee Patterson passed away at a local hospital on February 28, 2014. Visitation will be March 3, 2014 from 6-8pm at Grace Gardens. Graveside will be on March 4, 2014 at 11:00am at Waco Memorial Park.
John Lee Patterson was born May 7, 1941 in Seymour, Texas, to Rachel Opal (Harris) Patterson and John Lee Patterson,Sr.John Patterson graduated from Plainview High School, Plainview, Texas in 1958. He received a B.S. from Wayland Baptist University in 1963, and then completed a M.Ed in Counseling and Special Education from Midwestern University, Wichita Falls, Texas in 1972. While attending Midwestern University, he worked as a speech teacher, debate, track, and football coach. His debate teams competed in state UIL championship for two consecutive years and ranked second in the nation. During his football coaching years at Wichita Falls High School, his team went to the quarter finals in 1971 and were state champions in 1972. Upon completion of his degree from Midwestern University, he served as a staff psychologist for Central Plains Mental Health/Mental Retardation Center in Plainview, Texas from 1973-1975. In 1975, he went to work for his father and soon became owner and operator of Patterson Pump and Drilling Service in 1978. He sold the business in 1982 and moved to Waco in 1983 where he worked as counselor and coordinator at McLennan Community College serving disabled students toward their educational degree. Additional doctoral studies were pursued at Texas Tech University. Medical training and Rehabilitation Specialist certification were obtained while working as a Vocational Counselor for the Texas Rehabilitation Commission from 1981-1985. In 1985, he served as an instructor of Technical Communications at TSTC. In 1986, John pursued his true passion as a rehabilitation specialist in Waco, Texas until his retirement in 2010.
As a young man, John played minor league baseball, ran track in college and coached various sports from 1963 until 1972. Sports injuries ended his baseball and running careers. This personal experience with sports injuries pushed him towards the field of rehabilitation. Working with clients of the Texas Rehabilitation Commission, John began to realize that the medical solutions to many conditions such as back, migraines, knee and hip problems were not resulting in permanent solutions. John developed the technique that led to Body Mechanics -Synergy Release Therapy. This type of therapy has helped professional athletes, including Tracy McGrady, Terrell Owens, John Smoltz, Andy Roddick, Fred Couples, and many others reach their full potential and extend their careers. His desire was truly to help people in a way that would forever impact their quality of life.
John achieved numerous accomplishments including: The Tim O’Brian Track scholarship,1958, Psychology Award from Wayland Baptist University,1963, Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities,1963, National Forensic Teacher of the Year,1972, Outstanding Achievement Award, Texas Rehabilitation Commission,1976 and 1989. John published various articles in trade magazines, including “Learning Disabilities-Their Diagnosis and Remediation” (1972), “Psychological Effects on the Un-Wed Father” (1962) and “Poems” in McCall Magazine (1963). He continued to write poems throughout his life, and we will cherish those forever.
John was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was a man of wisdom and always loved sharing his knowledge with his family and friends. He was a great storyteller as we will always remember, our favorite, “ The One that Got Away”. He also had a passion for music and was a drummer for “The Lean Teens” in Plainview, TX. His hobbies included, fishing, woodworking, genealogical research, writing, and watching his grandchildren play sports. Each of his grandchildren will carry his values that he instilled upon them. He will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends.
John is preceded in death by his parents, John L. Patterson, Sr. and Rachel Harris Patterson.
John is survived by his loving wife Cara Jay Patterson of 51 years, daughter and son in-law, Shae and Kevin Dickey; daughter and son-in law, Dae and Brian Vasek; brother, Dr. Jerry Patterson and wife, Allyson; son, Dallas and wife, Lindsay Patterson of San Antonio; brother, Allan (Butch) and wife, Cheryl, and daughter, Danae Patterson of Parker, CO. Grandchildren, Dustin Vasek, Reagan Dickey, Logan Dickey and Cara Vasek all from Hewitt; brother in-law, Monte Nevills; sister in-law, Sandy Nevills and their three daughters, Laurie Nevills Spence and her husband, Stephen and children, Stratton and Kasen Spence of Houston; Landee Nevills of Bolivar, Missouri; Lasen Nevills of Houston. Cousin Frank Hall of Seymour. Numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Central Texas Genealogical Society, INC. in Waco, Texas, or a charity of your choice.