Deena Patton

February 28, 1971 - February 25, 2019

Deena Lynn Rigney Patton passed away Feb. 25, 2019. Deena was a lot of wonderful things to a lot of people: a wife, daughter, Mom, Mimi, Doxie Dog Mom, Second Mom, Aunt, and friend. These “titles” are just a small part of the tremendous impact she had on so many lives. She was born Feb. 28, 1971 in Dallas, Texas to David Lloyd and Lola Lynn (Owens) Rigney. 2 Corinthians 5:8 tells us that “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” so her family knows that when she closed her eyes here on earth for the last time, she opened them in Heaven to see, not only her Savior, but also her Dad, David Rigney, who preceded her in death. To know that she ran to David’s waiting arms gives her family a measure of peace until everyone can be together again in Heaven. Deena was also reunited with her grandparents, Lloyd and Beverly Rigney and Ed and Bess Owens as well as other family and treasured friends who have gone before. Deena grew up in Terrell and graduated from Terrell High School. Her kindness and giving nature drew her immediately to nursing where she answered the call to help others when she received her nursing degree from Trinity Valley Nursing Program. Her smile could instantly calm the patients that she helped and this talent for compassion was immediately recognized by her colleagues. She worked at Doctors Hospital for 17 years after which she went into Home Healthcare which allowed her to devote more time with her family. Deena never limited her caretaking to her patients in that every member of her family (near and far) as well as her friends were also under her “constant care”. She was the helping hand when schedules became hectic, the cheerleader when days became overwhelming and her steadfast loyalty to those she loved was seen in every activity every day. She and husband, Shawn, had many common interests but their common ground always included two main items: their family and their dogs! Deena had her own successful business of purebred Dachshunds, Patton Creek Miniature Dachshunds, as well as raising purebred Labradors for hunting and competitions with Lazy P Creek Labradors. Making sure that everyone was taken care of was the primary concern of Deena-there wasn’t a day that went by that she wasn’t checking in, bringing something or helping with a need. Of all the things that Deena loved doing, playing and spending time with her precious grandbabies and the blessing of being their Mimi was something Deena never took for granted. She was a ‘second mom’ to so many that held a special place in her heart. She was fun, adventurous, loyal, kind, intelligent with a laugh that would remind you of sunny days and great times. A beautiful woman, inside and out, Deena will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She leaves to cherish her memory her husband, Shawn Patton of Terrell; children: Bethany Patton and fiancé, Jason Parkey, Payton Scott and wife, Callie, Dillon Patton and wife, Brittany, Tyler Fryar, Mackenzie Patton and Lola Patton; grandchildren: Avery Patton and Tucker Scott; mother, Lynn Rigney; father- and mother-in-law, Charles and Alice Kay Patton; uncle, Dickie Rigney and wife, Debbie; aunt, Dorothy Rigney; uncle Bob Owens and wife Jan as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and a host of friends. Funeral service celebrating Deena’s legacy of unconditional love will be at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, February 28, 2019, at the Rockwall and Brin Church of Christ in Terrell with interment to follow at Kleberg Cemetery. Her family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at Max Slayton Funeral Chapel. In lieu of flowers and in honor of Deena’s love for helping others, two-legged and four-legged, memorials in her name may be made to the Share Center, 407 N. Rockwall Ave., Terrell, 75160 or to Terrell Animal Alliance, 13802 Sarah lane, Terrell, 75161, or can donate online at https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/187606.