John Ernest Patton

John Ernest Patton was born May 30, 1932, in Turon, Kansas, a tiny farming settlement. He was the first son of Ernest E. Patton and R. Lenore Yowell Patton. The family soon made a move to Los Angeles, California seeking better opportunities in those years of depression, and then war. Johnny began his education there in California and stepped happily into the role of big brother, a role in which he excelled. Here his life-long, characteristics began to be shaped and grow. He was a natural caretaker, and he took good care of his little brother and then little sister in a way that lasted all his life.

He was a life-long good student, excelling in school and was chosen, while in elementary school to present to an audience of patriots, a speech about War Bonds that he had written himself. He acquired a paper route at the age of 11, and faithfully delivered newspapers by bicycle, in Los Angeles, drafting his little brother to help once a week, with the huge Sunday papers. In 1945, just before the end of WWII, the family moved here to the Four Corners area where his Father leased a Texaco Service Station in Cortez, and the family found a home in Dolores. The two brothers thought they had come to paradise and John felt that way all his life. He went to school in Dolores and excelled and was always proud that he was able to play Six-Man Football for a year. Circumstances did not allow for more experience in games. He began to work at the Service Station when He was thirteen, and so his Saturdays and summer vacations were spent learning to work and do his jobs well. After graduating from High School in 1950, he attended Fort Lewis A & M Junior college for two years and then earned a bachelor’s degree from Colorado University in Boulder in 1954.

John married the love of his life and the “prettiest girl in the world”, who happened to be miss Charlieen Griffith from Dove Creek, CO, in September of 1953. The two young people began their sixty-two years of marriage in Boulder, CO, then moved back to Cortez after graduation. John settled back into work at the Service Station and then Uncle Sam sent a letter which drafted Johnny into the US Army. He spent two years in the service and returned home to Cortez. After another stint at the Service Station, he was drafted again, this time by Montezuma County School District, to teach at Lakeview Rural school as an emergency teacher. He was happy in this role and decided to become certified to teach, earning his master’s at Adams State College in Alamosa, CO.

As an adult, Johnny was very active in the local community. He taught sixth grade, drove a school bus, coached basketball and volleyball, drove the activity Bus for some special trips and generally loved his students for 30 plus years. Even after his retirement and up until he was 90 years old, he helped run the Elementary School Field Day at the end of each school year. Not only did he coach, but he also played on church and city basketball teams, as well as volleyball. He did love sports and had inherited an athletic talent. Sports was his second love.

The first love was music. At Dolores High School, he had been a member of the first and newly organized school marching band. He loved it! He found that he also loved to sing, when he joined Choralaires, a wonderful adult choir formed by Bufford Wayt. He was a member of that group for many years, until it disbanded. He sang in groups whenever possible, sang for weddings and funerals and just for fun with family. His love and ability to sing certainly belied the belief of some people that real men don’t sing!

Johnny was not a large man but one would never have realized it. Unlike many small men, he was not bothered by his size and certainly did not dwell on it. While not tall, he was a very strong and capable man. He was always ready to help with tasks that required strength. When the piano needed moved, you would be sure to hear a call for Johnny. Even at the age of seventy or more he would be in there lifting and helping while younger men sat and watched.

When his father, Ernest Patton, became involved in establishing a Presbyterian Church in the growing city of Cortez, Johnny was right there to help. He became a charter member of the church along with his parents and proved to be faithful and constant in his faith, by living and working within the guidelines of the church and his God.

Young John was committed to the growth of the church, and especially the spread of the gospel. He taught Sunday School and helped to drive loads of kids to church camp in the summer, He served on church boards as well as filling in wherever needed, including the pulpit on more than one occasion. He was a man who lived his faith. Blessed with a sweet nature and even temperament, he was not one to make negative comments about other people. He thought like the little Disney character from the movie Bambi; “if you can’t say nothin’ nice, don’t say nothin’ at all”. His nature was not confrontational. Often, he could calmly and nicely defuse touchy situations and perhaps make a new friend in the process.

Johnny really liked people and most seemed to like him as well. Children were drawn to him, and he loved them all. His family found that every time we went to town with him, there were current students and former students, greeting him, so pleased to see him and remember a class or team. He also remembered them, hundreds of names and details. Right up to his last days in the Care Home, former students were happy to see him and care for him.

Johnny was a member of the Elks. He was involved in various organizations and projects around the area. He was so involved that it seemed almost the whole Montezuma County population knew him. Wherever we went he was greeted by smiles and conversation.

In January of 2005, he was notified that he had been voted Citizen of the Year for 2004 and presented with a plaque from Cortez Chamber of Commerce. He was very flattered by the honor and cherished the occasion.

John and his wife Charlieen cared for both sets of aging parents and always extended that loving care to their younger brothers and sisters. He was a caretaker and family man down to his last breath.

Of course, we all know that the only perfect man ever to walk the earth was Jesus Christ, but Johnny tried hard throughout his long life to live in His Lord’s footsteps. This endeavor resulted in a truly good life. Friends and family loved and esteemed him, and he truly leaves the world a better place.

John Ernest Patton died on May 10, 2025, at 9:05 a.m. He was 20 days short of ninety-three years of age. He was preceded in death by his wife Charlieen, his parents Ernest and Lenore Patton, his brother Jim Patton, and two nephews. He is survived by his sister Carol Orrell of Cortez, one nephew and five nieces.