 PATTERSON, BETSY HALL Hazel Elizabeth (Betsy) Hall Patterson Age 53, of Albuquerque went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday Aug. 22, 2014, touching the wall for a final time after a courageous battle with breast cancer. Betsy was an amazing wife, mother, sister, swim coach and friend to many. She was born on May 8, 1961, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; the tenth of fifteen children born to Harvey J. and Anna Marie Hall. She was a graduate of University High and Louisiana State University. Betsy married J. Charles Patterson on August 21, 1982 and together they had 4 children: Ashley, Dana, Jennifer, and David. The couple moved to Albuquerque in 1985. Betsy enjoyed a life long association with the sport of swimming. She swam as a member of the (AAU), from the age of 6 to 18 and continued her love for the sport by teaching and coaching swimming throughout her life. She taught hundreds of children to swim while teaching swim lessons in a variety of locations. She was a dedicated coach at USA Swimming club branches of Duke City Aquatics and Charger Aquatics. She also coached the Sandia High School swim team for many years. She was widely known in New Mexico for her coaching career that spanned nearly 25 years. Her skills as a swim instructor and coach were formidable: she could spot a technical mistake from across the pool, never accepted excuses and possessed a voice that could be heard under water. She always put her swimmers first, teaching them lessons about swimming as well as about life outside the pool. She was always up for the challenge of helping anyone overcome their fear of the water and discover the joy of swimming. From infants, to children with special needs, to adults, she enjoyed helping them all. Her three children all enjoyed swimming and now her oldest daughter and son-in-law are carrying on her teaching legacy in Albuquerque at their recently opened swim school. Betsy enjoyed quilting, reading, swimming, biking and many other fitness activities. Over the years she was active in youth ministry and served as a deacon in her church. She also participated in the Young Life chapter at Sandia High School. She was most recently an active member of Sandia Presbyterian Church. Betsy is survived by her husband, Charles; two daughters Ashley Burns and her husband Taylor, Jennifer Mack and her husband Ryan; and one son, David Patterson; sisters, Mimi Platte (Keith), Kitty Hall (Neill Scott), Vicki Hall, Hopie Lovegren (Lee), Grady Morrison (Greg), Robin Patty (Drew), Shari Norblom (Kirk), Wendy DuMont (James); brothers, Chris Hall (Cathy), Jim Hall (Katrina), David Hall; and by Eula Mae Posey and her mother-in-law, Gena Patterson. She was preceded in death by her daughter Dana Patterson, her father Harvey J, her mother Anna Marie, brothers, Lee, Tom, and Richard Hall. Memorial services will be held at Sandia Presbyterian Church, 10704 Paseo del Norte NE, Albuquerque, NM, on Saturday, August 30th, 2014 at 3:00 pm.
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