Horace Preston Patton, Jr., age 69, of Sweet Home passed away Sunday, June 29, 2008. He was born in DeValls Bluff, Arkansas to Horace Preston, Sr., and Bessie Victoria (Alexander) Patton.

Horace served in the United States Navy on supply ships and destroyers from November 2, 1959 to October 16, 1964. He was a Boatswain Mate 3rd Class. He served during the Cuban Crisis, and then moved to Sweet Home in 1968.

Horace worked in sawmills while raising six children. He loved working with wood, collecting agates, doing yard work, hunting, and especially camping with his whole family.

Horace is survived by his wife, Betty Lois of Sweet Home; children, Ronald Preston Patton of Seabeck, Washington, Tracie Lynn Arnold of Stayton, Denise Lois Sellers of Silverdale, Washington, Bruce Patton of Sweet Home, Gregory Alan Patton of Sweet Home, and Gordon Eugene of Sweet Home; brothers, George Samual Patton of Portland, Thomas Everett Patton of Albany, John Paul Patton of Sweet Home, and Mike Alvin Patton of Brinkley, Arkansas; sisters, Ruby Todd of DeValls Bluff, Arkansas and Clara Sue Dooley of DeValls Bluff, Arkansas; 11 grandchildren and three great grandchildren with a fourth on the way.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Bessie Victoria Alexander, in 2000; father, Horace Preston Patton, Sr., in 2000; sisters, Annie Pearl Sparks and Bessie Mae Henthorne; and grandson, Ronald James Arnold, in 1979.

A memorial service will be at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, July 10, at First Baptist Church in Sweet Home. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling services.