Arlene Marie Pattison

Arlene Marie Pattison, 1936-2025 

Beloved mother, Arlene Marie Pattison, 89, passed away May 19, 2025 in West Jordan, Utah. She was born on January 24, 1936 in Riverside, California to James C. “Pat” Pattison and Anna Margaret Hanley Pattison. She was known as a spitfire, with fiery red hair to match, from the day she took her first breath.

Arlene’s early childhood was filled with moves from California to New Mexico, Washington, Idaho and Colorado, eventually settling for good in Magna, Utah. Magna was one of Arlene’s great loves; she served on the town council for many years and, until she became frail, never missed a Magna 4th of July parade and celebration. She attended Cyprus High School where she was a passionate participant in the annual “Song and Yell” class competition – to her dying days she bemoaned the fact that the tradition has died, but was ever faithful to gold and to blue.

Arlene worked her way through college at the University of Utah as a summertime cashier at Old Saltair and received her BA and teaching certificate in 1959 having majored in English with minors in history, education and French. Arlene taught at Ogden High, Kearns Junior High, Granger High, Viewmont High, Tooele Junior High and Henley High School in Klamath Falls, Oregon where the kids affectionately called her “Coach” for the time she spent producing and directing the students’ theater productions.

Arlene was a great lover of books, movies, musical theater, Harry Potter, newspapers, Rachel Maddow, Stephen Colbert, the Democratic Party and the United States Constitution. As a child, she stood on the steps of her apartment building belting out “God Bless America” at the top of her lungs to all who passed on the sidewalk below. She believed in her core that Americans are in it together, that we all do well when everyone does well, that one should give a hand-up to anybody who needs it, and that no matter how much money a person has it does not make them better than anybody else. When she retired, she ordered dozens of pocket-sized Constitutions and was known to hand them out to people who she felt could stand to learn a thing or two about our country, sometimes with highlighting directing them to the passages she thought they should understand a little better! She was a prolific writer of letters to the editor of the Salt Lake Tribune and they were frequently published.

Before retiring, Arlene spent 20 years working for Shriners Hospital for children in Salt Lake City where she made lifelong friends and was proud to play a role in Shriners’ mission of providing specialty pediatric care to kids who need it without regard to a family's ability to pay. During her retirement, Arlene spent much of her free time researching her family’s genealogy and was particularly proud of her Irish heritage. She was also proud that she managed to put together an extensive history of the Pattison family that she submitted to the LDS Church’s family history library for future generations of Pattisons to find and explore.

Arlene would tell you that her greatest joy in life was her daughter, Shoni Pattison. Her pride and admiration for Shoni knew no bounds and she died at home holding Shoni’s hands. She would not have had it any other way. Mom, you will forever live in our hearts. Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand and may you rest with ease in grandpa’s warm embrace.

Arlene was preceded in death by her parents James (“Pat”) and Anna (“Nancy”) Pattison, her sister, Michelene (“Mike”) Pattison and her brothers Terry (“Killer”) Pattison and Dan (“Torch”) Pattison. She is survived by her daughter Alyx (“Shoni”) Pattison.

There will be a viewing from 11:00-12:00 Tuesday, May 27, followed by a celebration of life from noon to 1:00 at Peel Funeral Home, 8525 W. Main St, Magna, UT. Arlene will be laid to rest immediately after at Valley View Cemetery, 4335 W 4100 S, West Valley City, UT. Please wear vibrant, happy colors – University of Utah red and white, or Cyprus Pirate blue and gold would be welcome! The family requests that no one wear black or white. Those interested in sharing a story about Arlene are encouraged to do so at the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Arlene’s name be made to Shriners Hospital for Children.