Capt. Michael Pattyson, of Castle Hayne, died Tuesday, May 13, 2014, at his home. He was 68.
Mr. Pattyson was a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps and served honorably in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. Capt. Pattyson received numerous awards and medals, including a Purple Heart. He earned 17 air medals as an aerial observer and flew in over 325 combat flights. At TBD in Quantico, Va., he had the highest combined rifle and pistol score in his company.
He will be remembered by his numerous friends as a nice guy with a great sense of humor. He was lover of animals, especially his dogs, T-bird, and Gabe. Capt. Pattyson was a member of the New Hope Pulmonary Rehab program for the past five years.
He was the son of the late Harry and Katie Pattyson. He was born in Summit, N.J., grew up in Westfield, N.J. and lived in Michigan before relocating to Castle Hayne.
He leaves behind his loving wife, Jennifer Lee. They started out as high school sweethearts, life took them on different journeys and they reconnected and were married eght years ago.
He is survived by his four children and their families, Kelli and Kevin Tobias and their children, Megan and Ed Weiderman and children, Linnea James and children, all of Michigan and Shane and Heather Pattyson and children, of Jackson, Tenn.; stepchildren, Aimee and Tom Cinzori and family, of Canton, Mich. and Brad Stout, of Westfield, N.J.; beloved sister, Kathy Merkh, of Norfolk, Va. and her two daughters; brother, Brian Pattyson, of Wayland, Iowa and his three children; aunt, Hud and her two sons, Chris and Donald, all of New Jersey; the mother of his children, Tommie Jo Franklin; and 13 grandchildren.
Capt. Pattyson will be cremated and his remains will be buried at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, N.J. in the family plot.
In lieu of flowers, he would like donations to go to the New Hope Pulmonary Rehab at New Hanover Regional Medical Center, 2131 South 17th Street, Wilmington, NC 28401.
Please leave online condolences for the family at Andrews Mortuary.
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