Kerry Patterson Obituary, Death – Kerry Jay Patterson, our beautiful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, teacher, and friend, died in his home in Provo, Utah, on November 6, 2022, as a consequence of surgery complications. Kerry was born on March 30, 1946 in Bellingham, Washington to Malcolm Reid Patterson and Melba Noonan Patterson. The untamed hills around his land provided an excellent environment for his adolescent pranks, as well as ample opportunity to explore and grow. He’d call it a little slice of heaven. He attended Ricks College for one semester after high school before embarking on an LDS mission to Sao Paulo, Brazil. He cared for and was dedicated to the people he served.
As a young missionary, he found time to study James E. Talmage’s Jesus the Christ, which instilled in him a deep gratitude and unwavering testimony to his Savior that lasted the rest of his life. He returned to Glendale, Arizona, to find himself in a completely different atmosphere because his parents had relocated to a warmer location while he was abroad. When he met Louise during an Institute celebration, he was surprised to hear that his parents had moved into her home ward. They fell in love straight away and continued to date at BYU until their marriage in the Mesa Arizona Temple on September 12, 1969. Kerry went on to attend Brigham Young University before serving in the Coast Guard from 1971 to 1973. He earned a Master’s degree in Organizational Behavior from BYU in 1976 and a PhD in Organizational Behavior from Stanford University in 1980.
Kerry is widely regarded as a thought leader in the fields of organizational change, interpersonal and workplace communication, and corporate training. Interact Performance Systems and Vital Smarts, two of the world’s most prestigious training companies, were cofounded by him. He was an avid writer who contributed to a number of books as well as award-winning training programs. Kerry was also well-liked by students at Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Management. Brigham Young University honored him with the Mentor of the Year Award and the William G. Dyer Distinguished Alumni Award in 2004. Change Anything, Crucial Conversations, Crucial Confrontations, and Influencer are among Kerry’s New York Times best-sellers. His works have been translated into 30 languages and sold in excess of 6 million copies worldwide.
In addition, he wrote the well-known “Kerrying On” column, in which he shared his vision and life lessons in a funny and entertaining writing style. Later in his career, he assisted in the establishment of The Other Side Academy and was overjoyed to learn of its success. Kerry’s devotion to his family and friends may have outweighed his attachment to his work. He adored his parents and had a legendary bond with his grandfather, whom he referred to as “Daddy Bill.” He adored his children and grandchildren, and he devoted countless hours to planning and organizing activities for them. He organized large family vacations, made the “best-ever” Christmas stockings, offered a vacation home for frequent gatherings, and spent hours around the table playing board games. His stories and ability to make us laugh will be remembered.
Kerry managed to make the best of a terrible circumstance. He enjoyed watching movies, writing, reading, traveling the world with Louise, collecting antiques, gardening, taking and editing images, and watching football and BYU athletics in his leisure time. He also took pleasure in educating and mentoring young minds, which he did for many hours. His drive to assist others in need was his most treasured attribute. We are always discovering new instances in which he gently supported those who were in pain, loneliness, or financial need.
His parents died before he was born. He is survived by his wife, Louise Christensen Patterson, and their children, Christine (Noel) Gouff, Rebecca (Bruce) Westenskow, Taylor Patterson, and Scott (Maren) Patterson, as well as 14 granddaughters, two great-grandchildren, and one brother, Bill. Until we meet again, we shall miss his kind and loving heart, broad intelligence, and cheerful and funny presence in our lives. Funeral services will be performed at the chapel at 3050 North Mojave Lane in Provo, Utah, on Saturday, November 12, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. A viewing will be held at the Berg Mortuary of Provo, 185 East Center Street, on Friday, November 11 from 6:00-8:00 p.m., and at the church on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. The interment will take place at Eastlawn Memorial Hills.
