Arbutus Mae Lusk Patterson

Arbutus Mae (Lusk) Patterson, aka, “Beauty”, passed away Monday, March 4, 2024, after a brief illness. She was the last surviving member of the late Charlie Lee & Mattie Taylor-Lusk family of ten, from Duhring, WV.

Born Wednesday, May 17, 1933, she was named after the trailing Arbutus flower by her father.
On June 9, 1947, she married former Marine, Bain Alexander Patterson (son of Ella Patterson-Petty & William Patterson) after meeting him on a rainy Veterans Day in 1946. After their wedding, they made their first home in Louisville, Ky. where Bain enrolled in Radio & Television school. Living right next door to Churchill Downs and often going to the track would create a lifelong love of the Kentucky Derby and a family tradition of watching the races throughout the years.

On June 16, 1959, Bain & Arbutus left Bluefield and became residents of Denver, Colorado. For 30 years it was their home where they enjoyed and visited nearly every Old West attraction in the state. Camping in the Rockies, going to Centennial racetrack in the summers, and the Denver Bronco games in the fall (with seats on the 50-yard line) plus being founding members of the Prince Of Peace Community Church in Parker, Colorado, and yearly road trips across the country to visit family in WV created many wonderful memories. They also traveled to Ontario & British Columbia, Canada, Kauai, Hawaii, Silver Lakes & Manhattan Beach, California, Greenville & Longview, Texas, and Keeneland, Ky., to visit their daughters and grandchildren.

In 1987, they moved back to Bluefield after Bain retired as Chief Engineer for Denver’s main Post Office Annex and Arbutus retired from Russel Stover Candy Company as Lead Supervisor. Arbutus faithfully gave Russell Stover Candy to family and friends for Christmas every single year after that, including 2023, and she could always tell you what was in the center of those chocolates.
On Monday, May 29, 1995, Bain unfortunately passed away, 11 days shy of their 48th wedding anniversary. It was a lifetime of exceptional journeys together and he has lovingly remained in the stories that were shared and remembered.

For the next 18 years, Arbutus and her sister Violet Bailey (passed, March 2013) were inseparable and led very active lives. Arbutus continued afterward with her Saturday Breakfast Club at Hardee’s with dear friends, the 5:00 PM Burger King Gang gathering, the Bluefield Senior Friends events, volunteer work for the Elks 9/11 program (a favorite, and appreciated), making chocolate/peanut butter Easter Eggs at Trinity United Methodist Church, membership in the Red Hats Society, going to David’s Downtown for many special occasions, her Railyard lunches at the Clover Club with special friends Helen, Cheryl, Phyllis, Dave, Shirley, and Gary, and attending services at Voice of Praise church in Bluewell. Her wide net of friendships will be missed by so many.

Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded by sisters Violet Bailey (Russell), Virginia Shrader, (George) brothers Udell Lusk (Janice), Raymond Lusk (Margaret) Henry Lusk (Joyce
Ann) Alfred Lusk (Jean) Buford Lusk (Barbara) Buddy Lusk (Gaye) and Bradley Lusk. Former brother-in-law Durward Patterson and Robert Johnston.

Those left to cherish memories are her daughter, Bonnie Marie Patterson of California and Bluefield, WV., and her two children Danisha Drury, of Victoria, B.C. Canada (Teya Bell) and Johnathan Patterson-Franklin, of Victoria, B.C. Canada. Daughter, Sandra Gail Spurlock (Danny) of Alba, Texas and her three children Kelly Ramsey-Zuniga-Webb (Lance) of Marfa, Texas, (Willem and Hudson Bain) Joseph Ramsey (Stacy) of Louisville, Ky. (Zoey, Phoebe, Ella) Geoff Morgan (Jade) of Wolfe City, Texas, (twins Landon and Julianne). She is also survived as a “Very Special” Aunt and Great Aunt, to over 100 relatives in the Lusk, Bailey, Shrader, and Johnston families. Additionally, sisters-in-law Naomi Patterson and Louise Johnston, and lifelong friends Reva Thompson of Ky. and Jeanie Layton-Miller (Bruce) Ca.

She had a beautiful life for us to remember and is loved forever in our hearts.

Respecting her wishes and personal request, there was no viewing or public funeral service.  A private graveside committal was held at Woodlawn Memorial Park, on March 6, 2024, with Pastor N.R. Taylor officiating.