Margaret Jean Stickney Patton

Margaret Jean Stickney Patton was born February 27, 1930 in Lawrence County, Indiana to Oscar and Biddie Batchelor. She resided in Mitchell, IN for 80 years before moving to Winston-Salem, NC. Jean was a faithful believer in Jesus Christ who was raised in the Nazarene Church in Mitchell followed by Tulip Street Christian Church (Mitchell) and First Christian Church, King, NC.

We remember Jean for her beautiful smile, kindness to others and serving people. She has a special kind heart for animals and people. She befriended many people at her home at Assembly Terrace Apartments. We remember her as sharing gifts with friends and neighbors.

Jean is preceded in death by her spouse of 47 years (December 21, 1949 to August 1997), Robert Edward Stickney, and later, her three-year marriage to longtime family friend Marvin Patton, a Nazarene minister.

Jean is the last surviving member of her siblings. When Jean was 5 years old, her mother passed away suddenly. She and her twin brother, Lloyd Batchelor, were raised by their Uncle Walter and Aunt Cora Batchelor. Helen and Kenny stayed with their father to help run the farm and household and the other children lived nearby with aunts and uncles. She is preceded in death by her twin brother, Lloyd (Mary) Batchelor, and six other brothers and sisters: Mary Louise (Andy), Helen (Walter) Garrison, Kenneth (Sylvia) Batchelor, Elsie (Tommy) Phillips, Lucille (Rosco) Slaughter, and Dorothy (John) Porter.

In early adulthood, Jean worked as a factory worker and later she served in various roles at the Bedford Medical Center, Bedford, IN. Following retirement she volunteered in the Gift Shop at the Bedford Medical Center. She enjoyed crocheting and crafting. She was awarded an honor by the Bedford Medical Center for creating Christmas ornaments from old x-ray films. Many have enjoyed her crocheted gifts. She loved playing Euchre, Yahtzee and puzzles. Her last Yahtzee game was just a couple of weeks prior to her death.

A fun memory we have of Mom is she never learned to drive a car. On her first attempt at driving, when a cement truck was approaching, she took her hands off the wheel and covered her eyes. She also ran over a chicken. Dad refused to try to teach her to drive again. So that ended her desire to learn to drive a car. Though she did enjoy using a riding lawn mower to mow the lawn.

Jean was very proud of her children, grandchildren, great and great great grandchildren. Jean is survived by her children: Michael Edward (Claudia) Stickney, Lois Jean (Phil) Meeker, Betty Jo (Dennis) Haste, Gregory Dean Stickney, Robert Eugene (Gloria) Stickney, Dawn Michelle (Mark) Nikirk, and Marvin Patton’s children, Debby (Steve) Baker, Paul (Debby) Patton, seventeen grandchildren, thirty-three great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.

Jean’s family will hold a Celebration of Life on Friday, June 20, 2025 at Cresthaven Memorial Gardens, Bedford, Indiana.