SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – He wasn’t famous or a multimillionaire, but the obituary of a Salt Lake City man is getting a lot of attention. Val Patterson is leaving behind a legacy with his personally written obituary.
Val Patterson writes that he was a "true Scientist. Electronics, chemistry, physics, auto mechanic, wood worker, artist, inventor, business man, ribald comedian, husband, brother, son, cat lover, cynic."
His story includes some inspirational thoughts and mottos like, "Don't apply for a job, create one," and quite a bit about the love of his life, his wife Mary Jane. "The one special thing that made my spirit whole, is my long love and friendship with my remarkable wife, my beloved Mary Jane."
With the life lessons also come some confessions, which Val's wife Mary Jane tells ABC 4 he never regretted.
He writes "I am the guy who stole the safe from the motor view drive inn back in June 1971."
And "to that really mean park ranger... It was me that rolled those rocks into your geyser and ruined it."
"Also, I really am not a PhD...The day I went to pay off my college student loan at the u of u, the girl working there put my receipt into the wrong stack, and two weeks later, a PhD diploma came in the mail. I didn't even graduate... In fact I never did learn what the letter PhD even stood for."
Val Patterson isn't famous and didn't make millions, but his obituary is touching the lives of people he never even met.
King Force of Salt Lake City writes, "I didn't know Val, but after reading this obituary and partial summary of his life, I would love to have known and associated with this man."
Dave Hall wrote, "Beautiful obit -- from someone who didn't know you but wish I had.”
