Nellie Patterson
Nellie Beatrice (Rowlett) Patterson, age 96, of Madison, Indiana, passed away on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at Jewel Place in Madison. She was born September 18, 1928 at her family’s home on Corn Creek in Trimble County, Kentucky, the fifth of six children to Lawrence Jefferson and Mary Ellen (McKay) Rowlett. At the age of seven, her mother passed away. She, along with her four siblings, were sent to live with their maternal grandparents, Benjamin and Mary Jane McKay in Bedford, Kentucky.
As a teen, Nellie and her sister Jackie moved to Battle Creek, Michigan and graduated from Battle Creek High School in 1946. They enjoyed living on their own and made many good friends and memories. When Jackie married and moved to Florida, Nellie moved to Madison. There she met and married Elbert C. Briddle. They had a daughter, Mary Christine (Chris) to join Carl’s older daughter, Sherry. Later, she married Forrest “Frosty” Patterson and in 1964 welcomed another daughter, Cathy Ann.
Nellie began her career at Madison State Hospital in 1956. During her tenure, she worked in the dietary department and did all the hospital’s printing, becoming the sole printer for MSH. She even printed for various organizations around Madison. She also worked in the communications department and became its manager. After thirty-seven years of service, she retired in 1993. Nellie was fair, honest and well-liked by her employer and her peers.
Family was everything to Nellie and she loved them dearly. Even while working full-time, she always made time for school functions, trips, friends and her family. She always looked forward to holidays, birthdays, and visits from friends and family. A great blessing for her was meeting her four great-great grandchildren.
For more than sixty-seven years, Nellie was a faithful member of North Madison Christian Church and attended worship services as long as her health permitted. She was also a member of the American Businesswomen’s Association. She enjoyed reading, watching Jeopardy on TV, cleaning, and playing cards. Even at ninety-five years old, she continued to live by herself, cleaning her home, cooking her meals, raking her leaves, and going to the grocery and library with Cathy. She was a feisty woman and full of spunk up until the day she died.
Her surviving family includes two daughters: Chris Miller and her husband, Bill, of Antioch, Tennessee, and Cathy Todd of Madison; four grandchildren: Angie Phagan and her husband, Troy, Mike Briddle and his wife, Terri, Christopher Todd and his wife, Alaina, and Chauncey Todd; eight great grandchildren: Sidney Hunter, Alexandria Hunter, Riley Phagan and his wife, Kallie, Mallory Swanson and her husband, Clint, Peyton Cheek, Maylee Todd, Emma Grace Todd, and Baby Todd, expected to be born in February 2026; four great great grandchildren: Paige, Teagan, Mason and Bradon; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers: Raymond, Clifford and Howard Rowlett; two sisters, Lois Liter and Jackie Hall; and one son-in-law, Curtis Todd on July 2, 2025.
At her request, no services will be held.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Madison-Jefferson County Public Library, 420 West Main Street, Madison, Indiana 47250 or Bright Focus Foundation (for Macular Degeneration) 22512 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, Maryland 20871.