On Jan. 25, 2026, our mother, grandmother, and sister went home to the Lord she loved. This is her story:
On June 23, 1937 in Neosho, Mo., Gwendolynn Rose Patterson was born to Emmitt Luther Patterson and Elsie Marie Moore Patterson, the second of six children.
Her first years of schooling were in a one-room Missouri county school. When she was 8, with father looking for work, the family moved to California; after a year there, on to Oregon. From 1947 to 1952 the family settled in Weston. From there they moved to Touchet, Wash. After attending seven different schools in four states, Gwenn graduated from Touchet High in 1955.
Right out of high school, Gwenn was employed by Dr. Ralph Smethurst as a dental assistant in Walla Walla, Wash.
In 1956, Gwenn married Leland D. Clark of Weston. To this marriage, three children were born: a boy who was still born in 1957 and twin girls in 1959. The couple adopted a baby girl in 1974.
Living in the Spokane, Wash. area, Gwenn worked for Camp Chevrolet taking care of accounts payable, payroll and inventory. Gwenn also worked at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane in the billing department.
In 1979, Gwenn and Leland divorced. Gwenn moved to Pendleton and gained employment with St. Anthony Hospital. Gwenn worked there until her retirement in 1999.
Gwenn ran into an old high school friend in 1982, Lloyd Fisher. They married in 1988 and were married for almost 27 years. Lloyd passed away in November 2014, living in Hermiston. Gwenn moved to Pilot Rock in 2015 to be close to family.
Gwenn loved to go fishing! She also enjoyed reading, crocheting, and watching her Seahawks and Mariners! She was a wonderful cook and enjoyed baking.
Gwenn is survived by their six children, Bambi Clark (Ronnie Smith), Brookhaven, Miss., Tammy Clark Paige, Brookhaven, Miss., Kori Clark (Nate Hendrickson), Pilot Rock, Tammy Fisher, Pendleton, L. Kent (Valerie) Fisher, Pendleton, and L.H. Chuck Butch (Marla) Fisher, the Oregon coast; 16 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren; sister, Patricia Mayfield, Wamego, Kan.; brother, Ronald (Flora) Patterson, Hermiston; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by husband, Lloyd; baby son, Matthew Gene Clark; parents, Emmit and Elsie; brothers, Roy Gene and Donald Patterson; infant brother, Billy Joe Patterson; grandson, Karson Fisher; and ex-husband, Leland Clark.
The family wants to thank those who cared for Gwenn in the last years of her life, especially Rachel H.
Gwenn requested that there be no services. She will be greatly missed.
Please share memories of Gwenn with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
