Mrs. Lynette Anne Patton, R.N., Ed.D., a devoted servant of Christ, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and dedicated nurse educator, went home to be with her Lord on Saturday, March 1, 2025. She was born on October 6, 1941, in Vallejo, California, the third child of Titus Neale and Cassie Jane Carr.
Lynette married the love of her life, Jack Thomas Patton, on September 2, 1960. Together, they built a life centered on faith, service, and education. She is survived by her beloved children: Robert Thomas Patton (wife Shauna Patton) of San Diego, Mark Keaka Patton (wife Connie Patton) of Sanger, and Christopher James Patton (wife Misty Patton) of Omaha. She was preceded in death by her dear son, John Neale Patton. Lynette's legacy continues through her cherished grandchildren: Mariah Western (husband Wyatt Western) and their children, Avis Jack and Selah Marie; Titus Mark Patton (wife Sarah Simons-Patton) and their expected child due in July 2025; and Zachary Patton. She is also lovingly remembered by her siblings: Robert Neale Carr, Sandra Jane Farriester and Martha Aleene Stolgren, as well as nieces, nephews, and cousins that she loved deeply.

Lynette's calling to serve others began at a young age, from babysitting at 13 to working in healthcare-related roles as a young woman. She pursued nursing and education with relentless dedication. After meeting Jack in 1958 at a Church Leadership Conference, she embarked on a journey that would take her across the globe in medical missions and academia.  Her professional career spanned decades and continents. She earned her B.S.N. in Nursing with R.N. licensure and Public Health Nurse Certification from California State University, Long Beach. Her commitment to healthcare education led her to serve as a Clinical Instructor at Ocean County Community College in New Jersey before moving to Pearl City, Hawaii, in 1970. Lynette spent years as a Home Health Nursing Instructor with the Red Cross before she and Jack answered the call to serve as medical missionaries in Papua New Guinea (PNG) from 1973-1980. She worked with the World Health Organization, helping to shape nursing education in PNG.  Never ceasing in her pursuit of knowledge and excellence in healthcare, Lynette earned her Master of Science in Nursing from California State University, Fresno, in 1979, developing a modular instruction program for pediatric care in PNG. Her service took her back to PNG before health concerns led the family to return to California. She then dedicated herself to training the next generation of nurses, serving as a faculty member at Point Loma Nazarene College and Christian Heritage College. She also served as a Clinical Instructor at San Diego State University.
In 1987, Lynette earned her Doctor of Education from the University of San Diego, focusing her dissertation on faculty-role stressors in nursing education. In the same year she and her family moved to Fresno to be near her aging parents where she became the College Nurse and adjunct faculty at Fresno Pacific University. In 1993 she and Jack returned to missionary work in PNG, serving with Wycliffe Bible Translators for several years. Upon return to the Fresno area she served as adjunct faculty at San Jose Christian College (now Jessup University) and Fresno Pacific University.
A new phase of her life began in 2006, when she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma. It was difficult for her to become the patient rather than the care-giver, but she put all in God's hands and was able to enjoy her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren for an additional 19 years.  Her contributions to the nursing profession and missionary work were not only evident in her teaching but also in her published works, which included training materials and health manuals for medical workers in developing countries.
Above all, Lynette lived a life of faith, reflecting the love of Christ in all she did. Whether as a wife, mother, nurse, educator, missionary, or friend, she touched lives with her wisdom, kindness, and unwavering commitment to God's calling. Her life exemplified the words of Matthew 25:23: "Well done, good and faithful servant."  Lynette's love, legacy, and faith will continue to inspire generations to come. She will be dearly missed but joyfully remembered by all who knew her.
Towards the end of her life she prayed regularly for the Ahka Youth Development Center in Chiang Rai, Thailand and regularly supported the medical mission team from First Chinese Baptist Church of Fresno that Jack and Mark had been a part of for a number of years. To honor her life and last ministry, a small medical clinic will be built at AYDC, led by a new nursing graduate there, Gaylada (Da) Chermue.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to: Thai-Akha Ministries Foundation (T-AMF) 28330 Thermal Road, Sanger, CA 93657