Dorothy Paterson

Sussex - Dorothy Paterson, age 86, passed away on Sunday, July 15, 2012 at the Sussex County Homestead in Frankford Township. Born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts to the late Evelyn Mae (Leonard) Gray and William Joseph Gray, Mrs. Paterson grew up mostly in New Jersey and had moved to Sussex County in 1956. She had worked at Morley Shirt Company in Franklin for 27 years and had retired from there in February 1991. Both before and after her retirement from Morley's, Mrs. Paterson had also been employed at the former Jamesway Department Store and then later the Ames Department Store in Sussex for 10 years. Following her retirement from Ames Department Store, Mrs. Paterson had delivered newspapers for the New Jersey Herald until her health no longer permitted her to continue when she was in her early 80's. She was an avid bowler and played on a championship team. Mrs. Paterson loved gardening and especially enjoyed sharing her tomatoes with friends and neighbors. She was a devoted family woman, who loved to spend time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She considered her children to be her greatest accomplishment. Everyone knew her as always having a wonderful sense of humor and as being cheerful and pleasant. She was a very loyal friend. Mrs. Paterson had been very partial to donating to the Salvation Army, Animal Organizations, and St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Mrs. Paterson was predeceased by her husband, Thomas Hinks Paterson; her brother, William Leonard Gray; and her sister, Frances (Gray) Blanchard. She is survived by her three sons, James T. Paterson and his wife Susan of Fallsburg, New York, Thomas W. Paterson, Sr. of Sussex, and Todd H. Paterson of Lantana, Florida; her four daughters, Susan F. Paterson Durina of Newton, Linda (Paterson) Southard and her husband Merle of Sparrowbush, New York, Annette (Paterson) Southard of Port Jervis, New York, and Dorothy (Paterson) Dryden of West Fall, PA; her sister, Annette "Ruby" Carson of Henderson, Nevada; her sister-in-law, Borghild "Borgie" Gray of Dublin, California; 15 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 20, 2012 at the Pinkel Funeral Home, 31 Bank Street (Route 23), Sussex. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Wantage. Friends may pay their respects to the family on Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9 pm. At the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations may be made in Mrs. Paterson's memory to the Salvation Army, 15 Corkhill Road, Franklin NJ 07416. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www pinkelfuneralhome.com