Author: Ruth Olson

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Guyon Eugene “Gene” Whitten ’62

Guyon Eugene (Gene) Whitten, 87, formerly of Inman, South Carolina passed away on Monday, July 27, 2026 at NHC Healthcare in Greer, South Carolina.

Born in Guilford County, North Carolina on December 22, 1938, he was a son of the late Margaret (Rock) Whitten and Guyon E. Whitten, Sr. and was the husband of the late Mildred Sue (Cook) Whitten having celebrated 57 years of marriage before her passing in May of 2026.

He was a graduate of Thomasville High School and Davidson College. He enlisted in the Navy in 1962 and received his commission at Pensacola Naval Air Station. He was assigned as a Flight Officer to the VR-3 Squadron, a part of the Military Airlift Command (MATS) at McGuire Air Force Base in Wrightstown, New Jersey. He received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and Vietnam Service Medal. He achieved the rank of Lt. USNR and was honorably discharged in 1969 having served four years on active duty.

He was employed with Milliken and Company for twenty years and served in manager positions at many locations. He accepted a management position with the Woven Electronics Company in Greenville, South Carolina. He served as Vice-President and General Manager of one division and later the same duties in another division. In addition, he was the co-owner, with his wife, of Ace Hardware of Boiling Springs, Inc. in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Retiring after 25 years of ownership, the business was sold in 2010. After retirement, served as a SCORE Mentor for six years.

He is survived by two sons, Stuart Whitten and his wife Emily and Mark Whitten and his wife Keaton; and daughter, Suzanne Lockwood; seven grandchildren, Annabelle Whitten Durden and her husband Drew, Andrew Whitten, Rebecca Whitten, Daniel Whitten, Silas Whitten, Coraline Whitten and Isaac Lockwood along with two brothers, David R. Whitten and John P. Whitten.

In addition to his parents and his wife, he was also predeceased by his son-in-law, Paul Lockwood and one brother, Sephen L. Whitten. 

The family will receive frien​​⁠‍ds on Friday, August 14, 2026 from 1:00 – 1:45 PM at Seawright Funeral Home.  Funeral services will follow at 2:00 PM in the Seawright Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jeremiah Childers officiating.  Burial with Military Honors provided by Boiling Springs Post #200 will be in Roselawn Memorial Gardens.  

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Ralph “Peery” Grant, Jr. ’61

Dr. Ralph “Peery” Grant, Jr. died on July 26, 2026 at Lanier Village Estates in Gainesville, Georgia at the age of 86.

Peery was married for 53 years to his devoted wife, Nancy Gardner Grant, who preceded him in death in 2015. They were married in Kingsport, Tennessee in 1962.

Peery is lovingly remembered by his two surviving daughters and their families: Tracy Grant Wade and husband, Bob Wade, of Highlands, NC; also Bob’s daughter, Heather Lammie (Jacob) and daughter, Charlotte, of Johns Creek, GA; and Bob’s son, Chris Wade; Susan Grant Traxler, MD and husband, Malcolm Traxler, Jr, MD and their children, Malone and Grant, of Cumming, GA. Peery’s youngest daughter, Amanda, preceded him in death in 2022 after a long battle with breast cancer, and Amanda’s surviving children, Grant and Sofia, reside in Mount Holly, NC with their father, Renato Edwards.

Peery was born in Greenville, SC in 1939. He graduated from Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport, Tennessee in 1957. He went on to graduate from Davidson College (Davidson, NC) in 1961, and later from Emory School of Medicine in 1965. He ultimately completed his Psychiatry residency at Emory as well. He later completed a Psychoanalytic fellowship at Columbia University in New York. He remained in private practice and served as an assistant professor at Emory University until he retired at the age of 71.

Peery loved sailing, reading and fine wine for most of his adult life, but his greatest joy was his family. The mountain cabin he and Nancy lovingly built in Wolf Laurel, North Carolina in 1996, was his favorite place to spend time with family and friends.

The family plans to hold a private service. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial donations be made to Cure PSP, a charity that remained important to Peery after Nancy’s death from PSP. Donations may be mailed to Cure PSP, 325 Hudson Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10013 or online at https://www.psp.org/ways-to-give.

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James E. Patterson, Sr. ’53

James E. Patterson, Sr. MD, age 94, passed away on Friday July 24, 2026 at his home in Marion, Virginia.

Doc Patterson was a wonderful husband, dad and daddy doc to the grandchildren. His priorities were in perfect order – God, family, and his community. After graduating from Davidson College and the UVA School of Medicine, he started practicing family medicine where he never turned anyone away – “No” was not in his vocabulary. Doctor Patterson made Smyth County and many surrounding counties medically better. He was instrumental in combining Lee Memorial and Marion General into the original Smyth County Community Hospital. In his time he delivered around 2,500 babies, was a Medical Examiner for 50 years, a trusted Emergency Room Doctor for many hospitals, the medical Director for every Rescue Squad in Smyth and surrounding counties. Doctor Patterson said “yes” again when his community needed a free clinic. His medical legacy will live on in the many wonderful differences he made during his life.

When he wasn’t Smyth County’s Doctor, he loved traveling with the love of his life, Fairfax. They enjoyed being on 7 continents and just hanging out at their second home in Myrtle Beach. He loved the garden, playing tennis, or just enjoying his time in the heat.

Doctor Patterson was generous with his time, resources, and affection. He supported UVA and Virginia Tech where he was a Golden Hokie.

It’s amazing all that he packed into his 94 years- A wonderful Family, A loving Doctor, and an Advocate for Good. Doc Patterson was the standard for A Wonderful Life – He will certainly be missed.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Leo Virgo & Clarice Widmeyer Patterson; infant sister, Ellen Avey; grandson, David Patterson Sparger.

Doc Patterson is survived by his wife, Fairfax Soyars Patterson; daughters, Rebecca Sparger (John), Jeannie Conner (Robert), Caroline Patterson; sons, James Patterson, Jr. (Toni), John Patterson (Wendy), Richard Patterson (Ami); brothers, John A. Patterson and Bruce Patterson (Cathy); grandchildren, Adam Sparger (Fatima), Claire Richardson, Hunter Anderson (Julie), James Patterson III, Jake Conner, Summer Patterson, Ellen Avey “Elle”, Brody Patterson, Walker Patterson, Daisy Sturgill, Sarah Salyer, Joey Conner; great-grandchildren, Sam, Seeley, Benji, Lyla, Fisher, Elyas, Hallie; and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to Christ Episcopal Church 409 W Main St, Marion, VA 24354, or Smyth Animal Rescue 182 Rifton Dr, Marion, VA 24354, or the charity of your choice.

Services will be held Monday July 27, 2026 at 7 p.m. at Fraziers’ Seaver Brown Chapel with Reverend John Church and Minister Frank Branson officiating. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.

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Daniel Mark Crates ’57

Daniel Mark Crates, of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, passed peacefully into eternal life with his Heavenly Father on Monday afternoon, July 13, 2026, at the age of 91.

A Chattanooga native, Daniel was born on July 10, 1935. He attended Bright School and McCallie School before earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Davidson College. Following graduation, he proudly served in the Tennessee Air National Guard from 1957 to 1963.

After completing his military service, Daniel joined his family’s business, Simco Leather Company, a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of equestrian equipment founded by his father, Robert H. Crates. He later worked alongside his brother, Rear Admiral Robert C. Crates. Following Simco Leather’s merger with Shakespeare Industries in 1970, Daniel served as President of the Simco Division, a company executive, and a member of Shakespeare’s Board of Directors until 1980.

In 1981, Daniel and his family founded Crates Leather Company, carrying forward a family tradition of manufacturing and distributing quality equestrian equipment to customers around the world.

Throughout his life, Daniel generously shared his time and talents in service to his community. He served as Chairman of the Chattanooga Manufacturers Association, as a board member of the Tennessee Manufacturers Association, and as a member of the Rotary Club of Chattanooga and the Young Presidents Organization. He also served as a commissioner for both Lookout Mountain and Walden, Tennessee, and later served as Mayor of Walden.

Daniel and his beloved wife, Elise, were faithful members of Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church for many years and were active members of the Brock Sunday School Class.

Although these paragraphs recount many of Daniel’s significant achievements, they represent only a fraction of a lifetime marked by extraordinary accomplishments, dedicated service, and enduring contributions to his profession, his community, and those whose lives he touched.

Above all, Daniel cherished his family. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 61 years, Elise Anderson Crates; his father, Robert H. Crates; his mother, Thelma G. Crates; his brother, Rear Admiral Robert C. Crates; his son-in-law, Charles T. Matthews; and his cousin, Dr. John B. Cameron.

He is survived by his loving daughter, Cameron Crates Matthews; his grandchildren, Tyler M. Smith and Eric Matthews; and his treasured great-grandchildren, Rowan Smith and Isla Matthews, all of Signal Mountain.

A private family burial will be held at Forest Hills Cemetery, with Frank Hitchings officiating.