Bernez Patterson Thomas

Dateline- Clinton, SC
Bernez “Bernie” Patterson Thomas, 85, of Clinton, SC, passed away on Sunday, January 29, 2012. Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, on February 15, 1926 to James Nathaniel Patterson and Hallie (Godley) Patterson, Bernie grew up primarily in the Fort Worth area. She graduated from Texas State College for Women in 1947 as an occupational therapist. Her work in this field took her as far away as Detroit and Chicago and back home to Texas, where she worked in Waco and Houston. These travels as a young woman developed in Bernie a love of visiting new places and meeting new people.
In early spring of 1954, she had a chance to visit a former roommate and the roommate’s husband in Hampton, Virginia where she met Bill, a lieutenant in the United States Air Force. He was so taken with the young lady from Texas that he even went to a museum with her. She apparently found him pretty special, because a little more than three months later, she and William F. (Bill) Thomas married on July 10, 1954 at Handley Methodist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. When Bill left the service, Bernie and he moved to Columbia where Bill was an engineering student at Carolina, and Bernie worked at the VA Hospital.
Bill’s later work with Union Carbide and Martin Marietta allowed Bernie to visit more new places as they moved to Tennessee, Indiana, South Carolina, Kentucky, and again to Tennessee. Wherever the family lived, Bernie created a wonderful home for them and made many lifelong friends. She also took advantage of opportunities to use her skills as an occupational therapist, touching the lives of hundreds of children and adults. Bernie was well known for her contagious laughter, her generous spirit, her sense of style, her love of travel, her willingness to volunteer, her beautiful crafts, and her delightful cooking.
In 1989 Bernie retired with Bill, first to Laurens and then to Clinton, South Carolina. Bernie was quite pleased to have one son and three grandchildren graduate from USC, and these grandchildren looked forward to Columbia visits from Nana and Poppop. Bernie worked for several years in her son Gill’s optometric practice, using her conversational gifts to make patients feel welcomed. Bernie and Bill traveled to many places in the U.S. and abroad in retirement and made many trips to see children and grandchildren. Bernie has been an active member at First Presbyterian Church in Clinton for over twenty years, and enjoyed being part of PEP Club and Sunbonnet Garden Club.
Bernie is survived by her husband, Bill Thomas; her three children, Dr. Gill Thomas and wife Nancy of Clinton, Dr. Will Thomas and wife Candace of Marshall, MN, and Phyllis Thomas of Oak Ridge, TN; five grandchildren, Maggie Thomas Stack and husband Steven and their children Chloe and Zoe, Caroline Thomas Manning and husband Jeff, Sgt. Adam Thomas and wife Mackenzie, Patterson Thomas, and Anna Thomas; two step-grandchildren, Deana Smith Giunta and husband Brian and their children Lily, Jay and Madison, and Karen Smith Wham and husband Allen and their child Mary Mellette; her brother, Jim Patterson and his wife Lila of Fort Worth, TX; and numerous nieces and nephews who will remember Auntie Bun with great fondness. Her family is thankful for the grace of Bernie in their lives. Blessed be to God.
Bernie was preceded in death by her parents.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, at 1:30 at First Presbyterian Church in Clinton, SC, with a reception to follow. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.grayfuneralhome.com .
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Laurens County, P. O. Box 178, Clinton, SC 29325.