Jolena K. Patterson, 75, of Oblong, IL, formerly of Shawneetown, IL, passed away unexpectedly at home on August 6, 2025. She was born on October 7, 1949, in Rock Creek, IL, to Floyd “Dickie” Lane and Nadine (Dillon) Lane. Prior to graduating from Cave-In-Rock High School in 1967, she was active in cheerleading and was voted Homecoming Queen her senior year. On June 3, 1967, she married Rob Roy Hyatt, Jr., of Shawneetown, IL, and together they began building a life in Shawneetown, raising two little boys born in 1968 and 1969 — Richard Roy and Jeffery Robert. In 1973, that chapter of her life was tragically cut short when Rob was killed by a drunk driver while they were traveling home after celebrating her 24th birthday. Jolena recovered from a broken neck she sustained in the crash, but she never recovered from losing Rob. Widowed at a young age, she found solace in God, drawing strength that helped her through this devastating heartbreak.
In 1975, Jolena built a new home in Shawneetown where she and her family of three took up residence. She later married Gary Barker, who had two teenage sons and their family grew from three to six overnight. In 1977, she gave birth to Matthew Joseph. Following a subsequent marriage, she gave birth to Brianna Jo Dillon in 1987. A devoted homemaker, Jolena was also an exceptional cook, and she never missed a school activity or baseball or basketball game. Jolena loved to shop! She treasured celebrating holidays and birthdays, relished large family gatherings, and enjoyed visits with loved ones. She was known for her special birthday cakes — in whatever flavor or animal shape you wanted. In 1996, Jolena earned her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and devoted fifteen years with WADI in Shawneetown where she was a home-based head start teacher and supervisor. Her compassion extended beyond people; she cared deeply for animals, doting on her cats, feeding neighborhood strays, and never hesitating to provide for any raccoons that wandered nearby. Jolena simply could not bear to see any creature go hungry.
Time and again, it was clear that faith was central to Jolena’s life. For more than twenty years, she was actively involved in the Ohio Valley General Baptist Church in Shawneetown, where she served as a youth group leader, taught Bible school, led Bible studies, and taught Sunday school. After moving to Oblong, she found a new church home at First Christian Church, where she continued to worship Jesus. Now, He has welcomed her home. The faith she lived so fully has become sight, and the promises she clung to are now her reality. Though we grieve her absence, we find peace in knowing she is in His presence — whole, restored, and more alive than ever.
Jolena was many things to many people — Mom, Aunt Jo, Grandma Jo, Miss Jo, and simply Jo to her friends and family. She touched all their lives in unique and special ways. Jolena is survived by her children, Richie (Sally) Hyatt of Indianapolis, IN; Jeff Hyatt (Brenda Furlong) of Willow Hill, IL; and Brianna (Dustin) Bean of Okeechobee, FL; by her grandchildren, Robbie, Bryan, Emily, Heather (Cory), Kansas, Casey, Lisa, Treyson, Isabella, Dylan, Bryeton, Brayelyn, and Trendon; by fifteen great-grandchildren; by her sister, Janice Dutton; by her brother, Charles Lane; and by nieces and nephews, Janet, Mike, Brad, Rodney, and Mandy. She was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd “Dickie” Lane and Nadine (Dillon) Lane; her husband, Rob Roy Hyatt, Jr.; her son, Matthew Joseph Barker; her brother-in-law, Glen Dutton; and her nephew, Chuck Lane.
A memorial service celebrating Jolena’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 30th, at the Vickery Funeral Chapel in Shawneetown, IL. The family will receive friends after 12:00 p.m. Burial will be in the Westwood Cemetery, Shawneetown, IL. In honor of this woman of faith, memorials may be made to either the Ohio Valley General Baptist Church or to the Oblong First Christian Church. Memorial donations and flowers may be sent to the funeral home.
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