Obituary of Bennie Pearl Ebbs Patterson

Bennie Ebbs Patterson passed away at her home in Gilroy, CA on Friday, July 19th, 2019 at the age of 89 surrounded by her four children.  She was born on December 9th, 1929 in Estilene, Texas to the parents of Martha Parlee Jones Ebbs and James Thomas Ebbs of Arkansas. 

Bennie moved to California from Olney, Texas in 1942 with her family.  She proudly played the clarinet in the high school band and graduated from Gilroy High in 1947.  Bennie married Charles Franklin Patterson on February 17th, 1950 and they had four children.  Throughout her life she worked at various jobs; a cook at Rebekah Children’s Home, production at Gentry Foods and the Gilroy Cannery, and QC at Fairchild Semiconductor while raising a family.  Bennie was an excellent cook and it brought her such pleasure to bake homemade bread, birthday cakes, and pastries for her family and friends.  Bennie loved her grey and white cat Simon or “Si” for short who brought her such joy making her laugh with his mischievous antics and loving kisses.       

Bennie leaves behind her son Michael Franklin Patterson of Gilroy; daughters Sandy Patterson-Jamarck and husband Dale Jamarck of Hollister; Sheila Patterson of Gilroy; Linda Patterson Irby and husband Russell Irby of Bakersfield; grandson Benjamin Franklin Patterson of Salinas. Preceded in death by her mother Martha (Mommo) Parlee Jones Ebbs and father James Thomas Ebbs; brothers James Lee Ebbs of Lebanon, Oregon; Ted Ebbs of Morgan Hill, California; Bill Ebbs of Texas; sisters Shirley Linville of Arkansas; Morene Chandler and Irma Goldsmith of Texas. She is survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family will be having a private service and internment at Gavilan Hills Memorial Park which will be determined at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Bennie Ebbs Patterson to the local Gilroy Rebekah Children’s Services at https://www.rcskids.org/donate or personal checks can be mailed to 290 IOOF Ave, Gilroy, CA 95020.