Winifred Jennie Roberts

Winifred Jennie (Patterson) Roberts was born in Garden County, Nebraska November 24, 1917 to James Patterson and Lena Gordon Patterson. Winnie passed away peacefully at the Hillcrest Care Center in Wray October 20, 2011.

Winnie was one of eight children born to James and Lena Patterson, who emigrated from Drumquin, Northern Ireland in 1914 and lived the rest of their lives in Garden County. Winnie attended schools in Lewellen and Oshkosh, Nebraska before graduating from high school in 1936 and then attending Minnequa School of Nursing at the Corwin Hospital in Pueblo.

After graduating with her certification as a registered nurse, Winnie worked for another year at the Corwin Hospital before moving to Ft. Collins and then joining the Army as a second lieutenant. Winnie was sent to Europe during the World War II serving mostly in hospitals in England. Winnie became very fond of the English and Irish people and frequently recalled that those years in Europe were among the most exciting of her life.

After being honorably discharged from the Army in 1945 Winnie returned to Colorado and joined her sister, Nellie who had graduated from Coloado State University and was working in Wray as the country extension agent. Sinnie began what would be a 25 plus career as a the registered nurse and general office manager for Doctors Buchanan and Larsen. Over these years at the Wray Clinic, Winnie became known and loved by most of the residents of eastern Yuma County and neighboring areas in Nebrraska.

Shortly after coming to Wray, Winnie was introduced to Roscoe (Conk) Roberts and the two were married in September 1947. For most of the next 43 years, Conk and Winnie lived on the Roberts farm two miles south of Laird. Their first son, James Roscoe Roberts was born in Februrary 1949 and their second son, William Roy Roberts  was born in November 1951. Conk and Winnie  were active members of the First Presbyterian Church in Wray. Winnie was also active in PEO. Winnie enjoyed parenting, work, cards, sporting events, traveling, reading, and keeping an active social life.

Winnie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Roscoe, sisters, Mae Orr, Margie Orr, Nellie Loyd, and Dorothy Fisher.

She is survivied by her sons, Jim and Bill Roberts, daughters-in-law, Donna Roberts and Cindy Orser, granddaughters, Lauren Roberts and Julie Baux, great-grandsons, Preston and Riley Baux; brothers, Jim and Bill Patterson, sister, Lillie Robinson; brother-in-law, Pete Roberts and Sue Roberts, sister-in-law,  Becky Baker and Melvin Baker, nieces and nephews, Joanne Spring, Jean Lamson Spencer, Jere Friedman, Janet Waite, Peg Jones, Boy Loyd, Patti Stillahn, Mike Fischer, Tom Fischer, Nancy Fox, Betty Rochlitz, Sandy Patterson, LeAnn Brown, Connie Peterson and Joni Patterson

Funeral services were held October 25th at the First Christian Church in Wray. Interment follow at the Grandview Cemetery in Wray. Memorials may be made to the Wray Community District Hospital Foundation’s Fund for Nursing Scholarships. Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home was in charge of arrangments.