Cris Patterson
Born on October 2, 1960 in Anchorage, Alaska.Passed on December 25, 2025 Melbourne, Florida
Cris Alexander Patterson, 65, passed away on December 25, 2025. He was born on , to George and Margret Patterson in Anchorage, Alaska. During his childhood, he and his family lived in Alaska, California, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Guam, Maine, and Florida, settling in Indian Harbor Beach, FL, in 1975. Cris spoke fondly of the places he lived and had a story about almost every place. His brilliance (he probably tested as a genius at some point) and sense of adventure created many memorable moments. From Scuba diving, waterskiing, chess tournaments, traveling the country, and living in hotels for months, from Burbank to Birmingham and Nashua to Key West, Cris did his own thing and didn’t slow down. After a spinal cord injury in 1982, which would have stopped many, he finished his Business degree at UCF and then completed a degree in Computer Science. He continued to work, volunteer for the City of Melbourne Building Board of Adjustment and Appeals, scuba dive, and have adventures with his friends.
Cris might say the most poignant time in his life was when he needed to make sense of LIFE, HIS life. Though active, why was he now restricted to a wheelchair and failing health and everything oh-so-complicated? He met with Christian friends, began reading the Bible, and started attending church in the late ‘80s. He saw the intelligent design of man and the world (Cris always started from a place of logic). He understood his sin, and the Bible explained that this earth is the broken part of the coming Kingdom. Placing his faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9) for strength here and eternal life with Christ, Cris could look back and see the many ways Jesus cared for and protected him. His faith and grit (did we mention he was stubborn?) got him through many challenges as he aged. A fiercely independent man, Cris is indebted to his high school friend, Jim Nolan, for decades of friendship and support. The Lord brought Johnna to Cris about five years ago. Her care helped him maintain his health and independence until Christmas Day, 2025, when Cris had his first Christmas in the presence of Jesus.
Cris is survived by his brother, Joel Patterson, and his wife, Mary Ann Patterson.
A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Canova Park, Indian Harbor Beach, at 10:00 am.
