Denny Lee Patterson, 82, passed away Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, at his Chehalis, Washington, residence. Denny was born July 22, 1939, in Centralia, Washington, to Lloyd E. and Ruth (Scanlon) Patterson. His family has been in the Lewis County area since 1886, and he was quite proud of his pioneer heritage.
Denny attended Centralia schools, starting with Jefferson School in 1945. He was a 1957 graduate of Centralia High School and attended Centralia College before enlisting with the United States Army in 1963. Following his term of service to our country, Denny started his career with the U.S. Postal Service, enjoying many years as a mail carrier in Centralia before his retirement in 1992.
Denny loved the outdoors. He moved from Centralia to nearby Toledo, Washington, in 1994, and had only recently moved to Chehalis last year. His favorite activities were fishing and hunting ducks and elk, but he was happiest when he was hiking with his dogs, Rusty, Pal and Nipsey, enjoying the beauty of our Pacific Northwest. Denny was a caring and generous man and a strong supporter of the Toledo Scholarship Foundation, the NRA, Ducks Unlimited and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
He is survived by family members, Marcy (Mike) Pullinzi of Batavia, New York; Kevin (Sandy) Hutchinson of San Juan Capistrano, California; Jodi Scherer of Mountain View, California; Heidi (Mike) Riederer of Westminster, Colorado; Mark (Miranda) Outland of Kelso, Washington; Joan (and late husband, Rich) Scherer of Mountain View, California; and dear friends Ron and Mary Rinear and their family of Lacey, Washington, and Wendy Thomas and her family of Toledo, Washington.
A graveside service with military honors is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Mountain View Cemetery in Centralia. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Toledo’s Timberland Public Library, the Lewis County Animal Shelter or a charity of your choice.
