PATTERSON, KATHRYN PETMECKY (1911 ~ ). The following is an obituary for Kitty Patterson, spouse of John Patterson. The obituary was provided by Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home.
Kathryn Petmecky (Kitty) Patterson, age 100, passed away on July 15, 2011. She was the widow of the late J. M. Patterson, Jr. Jay was a long-time Austin attorney. He served on a number of State boards and commissions as well as Travis County Democratic Chair.
Kitty was born on March 21, 1911 to Annie Myrtle Nixon Petmecky and Jacob Henry Petmecky. Jake owned and operated the renowned Petmecky’s Sporting Goods store on Congress Avenue for many years. She grew up in Austin just a block from her grandma “Pet”, who instilled in her a love of beautiful antiques, needlework, and good food. Kitty’s needlework graces the homes of friends and relatives throughout Texas.
Kitty was known as a gracious hostess and splendid cook, and for her large backyard parties at the Patterson home on the banks of Waller Creek. The late Mary Faulk Kooch of Green Pastures restaurant included Kitty’s lemon pie and crust recipe in The Texas Cookbook stating, “We plan to send Kitty to the Olympics for her lemon pie baking.” “Sensational” and “scrumptious” were words heard often after one of her meals.
She graduated from Austin High School in 1928 and attended Nixon-Clay Commercial College. She helped her husband, Jay, through law school by working at the Stenographic Bureau of the University of Texas where she transcribed manuscripts for such luminary Texans as Annie Webb Blanton, Walter Prescott Webb, and particularly J. Frank Dobie (who was very fond of her, but of whom she would relate in later years “was a terrible speller!”). She also worked as the chief Legislative Aide for several State Representatives and Senators and as assistant to LCRA manager Max Starcke.
Kitty was the consummate Southern lady and, despite her personal accomplishments, most wanted to be remembered as a devoted and loving wife, mother, and friend. All who had the pleasure of knowing her would say that was very true.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 62 years; by her two sisters, Inez Foster of Austin, Texas; and Mary Ledlow of Waring, Texas; and one brother, Jake Petmecky of Austin, Texas; by two nieces, a nephew, and one great nephew; and by a great-grandson, Daxon Whitmore.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Steven Carriker of Dripping Springs; a grandson, Jake Carriker and wife Sarah and great-grandsons, Max and Rocky of Austin; and granddaughters, Karen Carriker of Houston and Stephanie Carriker of Pflugerville. Beloved nieces and nephews surviving her are Barbara Foster Brawner of Austin; Elaine Ledlow Jenkins of Alba, Texas; and Forrest Ledlow, Jr. and wife Sissy of Waring, Texas.
A very special thanks goes to Margie Bennett for her many years of compassionate care and to Kitty’s other “angels”; Emily Turnbull, Dorothy Baker, Annette Chelette, P. J. Cooke, Jessica Freeland, Betty Harris, Adriana Jara, Lorena Jara, niece, Barbara Brawner, and her granddaughter, Stephanie Carriker; as well as, to the many “angels” at Hospice Austin, The Summit at Westlake Hills, especially, Carmen, Neema, and Catherine, and Hill Country Care Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Dripping Springs, Texas.
Kitty will lie in state from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20th at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N Lamar Blvd, Austin.
Visitation will be at 1 p.m. in the Weed-Corley-Fish Chapel followed by a funeral service at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 21, 2011.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Friends Foundation, Box 8, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620 (a nonprofit helping the elderly in the Dripping Springs area); to Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite100, Austin Texas 78759; to St. David’s Episcopal Church, 301 E. 8th St. Austin, Texas 78701; or to a favorite charity.
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