Olivia Owens Nisbet Patterson

OLIVIA OWENS NISBET PATTERSON died peacefully on May 2, 2015, surrounded by her loving children and grandchildren. Early in life, she was named "Lid" by her childhood friends and she was called Lid by her family and friends during her entire lifetime. Lid was born in Little Rock on June 3, 1921, the only daughter of Grover T. and Ruby Johnson Owens. After attending Little Rock Public Schools, she attended Miss Porter's School in Farmington, Conn. Married in 1941 to the late Alexander W. Nisbet, she would live in Little Rock for most of her lifetime. In 1991, she married the late Hugh B. Patterson, Jr., former publisher of the Arkansas Gazette. Lid was a beautiful woman with boundless energy. She will be remembered for her compassion for everyone, her impressive intellectual curiosity, her sense of humor, and her love of family and friends. In her youth, Lid enjoyed traveling, spending summers in Ludington, Mich. and Malibu, Calif., and trips abroad with her parents. Later in life, she enjoyed many trips throughout Europe with groups of friends. After her marriage to Hugh, the two of them traveled extensively throughout the world. In addition to traveling, Lid was an avid gardener and consummate volunteer, serving as everything from Cub Scout den mother to Chairman of the Arkansas Arts Center's Beaux Arts Ball (now Tabriz). She served various community organizations, including the Little Rock Junior League, the Arkansas Arts Center, Easter Seals Arkansas, the Arkansas Children's Hospital, the Red Cross (volunteer nurse), and the Little Rock Garden Club, often serving in leadership roles. She also enjoyed cooking, entertaining and being entertained. She always looked forward to her next invitation to engage with friends and family. She was an equestrian for most of her young life and she enjoyed her pets very much, including many cats and many Chinese pugs. Lid was a member of the Country Club of Little Rock and a lifelong active member of Christ Episcopal Church. Lid is survived by two children, Olivia (Livvy) Nisbet Wyatt (Dick) of Little Rock and their two daughters, Mary of Little Rock and Olivia of Los Angeles and A. Wyckliff Nisbet, Jr. (Tish) and their three daughters, Jane Embry Selig (Drew) of Little Rock, Alexis O. Reid (Adam) of Little Rock, and Rebecca G. Nisbet of Chicago. She is also survived by her stepchildren, Carrick (Pat) Patterson of LIttle Rock and Ralph (Elizabeth) Patterson of Blowing Rock, N.C. and their families. Special thanks from the family go to her dedicated personal caregivers: Bessie Johnson, Naomi Bullard, Greg Simmons, the late Grantt Kelly, and to Home Care Hospice who provided gentle care during Lid's last days. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Christ Church, Easter Seals Arkansas, CARTI, or the Arkansas Repertory Theatre. A visitation at Reubel Funeral Home will be held on Monday, May 4, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Funeral services are scheduled at Christ Episcopal Church on Tuesday, May 5, at 11:00 a.m. A private family burial will follow at Roselawn Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.