Curtis Charles Patterson, age 91, of Birch Tree, Missouri, departed this life on July 30, 2021, at Ozarks Healthcare in West Plains, Missouri. He was born on December 4, 1929, in Summersville, Missouri, the son of William Ruben "Buck" and Ellen Jane (Kelly) Patterson.

He was discharged from the Navy on June 20, 1949, and was later united in marriage to Elsie May Gosnell on September 15, 1950, and to this union, one son was born. Curtis and Elsie loved to travel early in their marriage. They lived in several states, which include Arkansas, Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico. After all that, they finally settled on a farm in Birch Tree.

Curtis retired in 1985 from the United States Forestry Service, where he fought forest fires by jumping out of a plane. We will always remember him saying, "Why jump out of a perfectly good plane?"

He was also a lifetime farmer and loved the farm life after retirement. He also liked riding horses, fishing, his chickens, and trading horses and chickens with Tee, Sheila, and Allen. Curtis and Elsie had moved out to the farm where he grew up, and all he wanted was to live out the rest of his life sitting on the porch watching the horses.

Curtis is preceded in death by his parents, "Buck" and Ellen Patterson; three sisters, Pat Smith, Bonnie Hawkins, and Leona Bledso; and one brother, Bill Patterson.

He is survived by his wife, Elsie Patterson; one son, Terry Patterson; two grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Betty Barton and Jenny Hester; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Curtis was hard to get to know, but he was very fun-loving and was a great husband, dad, grandpa, and uncle. He will be sadly missed, but he was ready to finish the journey home.

We love and miss you.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Yarber Mortuary, Birch Tree, Missouri with Bro. Gary Reagan and Chaplin Greg Yount officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10-11:00 a.m. also at the funeral home. Interment will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, Birch Tree, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Condolences may be expressed at www.yarbermortuary.com.