Ray Patterson, age 78, passed away into the arms of his Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ on Thursday, December 17, 2020 after a courageous two-year battle with leukemia.  He was born in Kalamazoo on March 16, 1942, the son of Ray Vermont and Lucille (Graham) Patterson. After graduating from Portage High School, Ray went on to attend Western Michigan University. Ray had many hobbies and loved ball games, woodworking, helping others, but most of all, he loved his kids and grandkids. He worked as an electrician with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for 40 years and retired in 2004. Ray was very active in his church, Friends Church in Battle Creek, as well. On  January 4, 1964 Ray married his sweetheart, Carolyn and they most recently celebrated 56 years of marriage. Together, Ray and Carolyn made a family and many wonderful memories together. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister and her husband, Colleen and Pete Kakabaker, sister Marlene Bisceglia and brother Paul Patterson, as well as his brother-in-law, Max Hiscock. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Carolyn, their children, Penny (Tim) Born, Lisa (Tim) Kellam, Brian (Kim) Patterson, their beloved grandchildren, Amber (Ben), Nicole (Paul), Jordan (Noelle), Ben, Tyler, Emma  (Wyatt), Allie (Carson), Blake and Trevor, three great grandchildren, Eli, Payton and Felicity, as well as his siblings, Jack (Donna) Patterson, brother in law, Don Bisceglia and sister in law, Susie Patterson, along with many special nieces, nephews and cousins.