Clarence D. Patton, Jr.

Clarence D. Patton, Jr., age 80, passed peacefully into eternity at home with family and friends on Sunday morning, July 31, 2022. His long battle with Alzheimer’s, which he fought gallantly, is finally over. He was dearly loved by his family, and he had many special friends. Clarence was born in McMinnville, Tennessee, on April 20, 1942, to Clarence D. Patton, Sr., and Henrietta Golden Patton Mabery, who preceded him in death. Survivors include his high school sweetheart of 59 years, Norma Davenport Patton; daughter, Lisa Patton Tyler (Ryan) and son Michael Patton (Stephanie); two grandchildren, Remington Drake Tyler (Tatum) and Daven Kennedy Tyler; two great grandchildren, Oaklyn Gray Tyler and Rhett Paul Tyler; one brother, Gary Patton (Dianna); nieces, Kenzie Leigh Patton, Teri Welden and retired Lt. Commander, Angela (John) Johnson; nephew, Dr. Charles (Lenore) Priest; one step-sister, Janice Mabery Carruth; sister-in-law, Cheryl Davenport Priest; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Paul and Jacque Davenport; several cousins, friends and extended Norma’s Wiser family also survive. Special thanks to Southern Care New Beacon Hospice for their exceptional and compassionate care during this lengthy time and to special friend Nancy Jones, who so graciously gave many hours of help to Norma for Clarence’s care. Clarence will be sorely missed, but he has reached his eternal home. We are looking forward to a sweet reunion with him. Clarence was a member of Broadway Fellowship, a satellite campus of Highland Baptist Church. While in Huntsville he was a member of Hillwood Baptist Church where he was a deacon and choir member. He especially loved singing with the XYZ group at nursing homes and other venues. Clarence graduated from McMinnville City High School, Columbia Military Academy, and Tennessee Technological University with a degree in Animal Husbandry. His main life’s works were in farm management, construction, and transportation. Clarence retired from the City of Huntsville, AL, Dept. of Transportation. He made his home in Huntsville, AL for 35 years. While claiming McMinnville as his native home, he also had lived in Kentucky and Mississippi. Clarence was an outstanding football player and ‘it is said’ that he could load a trailer of hay bales by himself in an afternoon. With friends and classmates he helped initiate the first intercollegiate rodeo while at Tennessee Tech. He was a steer wrestler and ‘it is said’ that the steers would fall to the ground when they saw him coming. He had amazing control over animals, and his dog Sugar was always by his side. He was famous for his bar-b-que skills and was an excellent cook. He could fix anything, and he could grow anything. But his passion was spending time with family and friends. Funeral arrangements are with High’s Funeral Home in McMinnville, Tennessee. Visitation is Wednesday, August 3, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at 2:00 p.m. in High’s Chapel. Burial will follow at Gardens of Memory in Warren County, TN. Memorials may be made to Gideon Bibles or HBC Broadway Fellowship, 219 Simpson St. Florence, AL 35630. Online condolences may be made at www.highfuneralhome.com. High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.