Sara Verne Sowards Patterson, born June 30, 1934, passed away peacefully at home on January 21, 2025, surrounded by her family.

Sara lived many lives over her 90 years. She grew up in Texarkana, Texas as the daughter of Sam and Jewel Sowards. She graduated from Texas High School and won the first Miss Texarkana pageant. She was a model in Dallas before moving home to marry Larry Patterson in 1954. She was a loving wife to him for 63 years and an amazing mother to their children Julie, Jeff, Elizabeth, Rachel, and Marshall.

She was a devout member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and played the guitar Mass every Saturday evening for 35 years. She served in the Altar Society and worked with the sisters in the church garden. She hosted a talk show on Texarkana public radio in the 80s, and traveled to Cuba under a media visa. She later became the secretary at St. Luke's United Methodist Church. She worked there for more than 20 years, sang in their choir, an attended church services at St. Luke's as well as Sacred Heart every week. She was ecumenical.

She loved photography, maybe even more than her professional photographer husband. She loved to travel, and had countless adventures across the US and Europe by car, train, boat, plane, and even a Grand Canyon mule named Stanley. She loved walking on the beach, parasailing, and climbing the highest peak. She had a beautiful singing voice and performed in countless TexRep and Texarkana Little Theater musical productions. She often drafted her husband and children into theater roles as well. She started taking tap, jazz and ballet lessons in her 50s and performed a 10 year dance recital solo in her 60s. She was a lifelong learner.

She was into crystals and homeopathic medicine, and fed her children vinegar water and many, many vitamins. She explored and marveled at the mysteries of the universe. She asked her priest why she could not be both Catholic and believe in reincarnation. She was a feminist and a strong supporter of civil rights. She enjoyed driving around town, listening to Rush Limbaugh, flying American flags on both sides of her car like a visiting dignitary, while also sporting bumper stickers like "Coexist" and "Visualize world peace". She rarely cursed but "damnation" was her favorite. Her worldview was multifaceted.

She was intensely proud of her family and her community, and taught her kids that life is often beautiful and mysterious, sometimes difficult and unfair, and always a gift to be grateful for. She was blessed with her best friends and caregivers Shameka and Bridget Clark, who cared for her like she was their own mother during her last four years of life.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Patterson, and her daughter, Elizabeth Patterson Ingram. She is survived by her children: Julie Patterson and Andrew Kirby; Jeff and Annette Patterson; Rachel and Joel Crews; and Marshall and Brenda Patterson.

Her grandchildren include Maresa Patterson and Jessie Katz; Erin Patterson and Trevor Robinson; Blair Patterson and Will Lulofs; Catherine and Lawson Lawrence; Jack Crews; Caroline Crews; Gabe Patterson; Gillian Patterson; Alex Wilson; and Chase Wilson.

Her great-grandchildren are Eli Patterson, Pip Patterson, Sonny Katz, Georgia Ferguson, Evie Ferguson, James Robinson, and Scarlett Robinson.

She is also survived by her devoted son-in-law and family: Mike Ingram, Sylvia Ingram, and Megan Harrison, along with many others who loved her and will remember her always.

A Memorial Service will be held for Sara on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, officiated by Rev. Fr. Braun. Visitation will take place in the chapel of Texarkana Funeral Home - Texas the night before, Friday, April 11, 2025, beginning at 5:00 PM, with rosary beginning at 6:00 PM.

Burial of cremains will be at Holy Cross Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Elizabeth Patterson Ingram Literacy Foundation. Online go to: https://secure.ncfgiving.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000UDz0WEAT

Or send a check to:

National Christian Foundation

Attn: Elizabeth Patterson Ingram Literacy Foundation

7015 College Blvd, Suite 250

Overland Park, KS 66211