Mary Patton

Mary Lou Patton, age 86, of Byesville Ohio and formerly of Brooksville, Florida, passed away Saturday (December 27, 2025) at Cambridge Place in Cambridge, after a lengthy illness. She was born on January 8, 1939 in East Liverpool, Ohio. She was the daughter of Charles Ross and Bonnie Bell (Buchanan) Dawson.

A graduate of East Liverpool High School, she was a school bus driver for many years in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. She was a member of the Churches of Christ.

Known as “Mammalu” to her friends and family, she enjoyed travelling, dancing, working outside on her “ranch” in Florida, exploring by taking “gray roads”, going to the movies, and watching “The Young and the Restless”. She loved animals, especially her dogs Bo and Snow. But her first love was horses – especially Levi and Cheyenne.

Mammalu served as president of the Nature Coast Buck Country Horsemen’s Association. She was instrumental in developing and marking miles and miles of horse-riding trails throughout the 157,000 acres of the Withlacoochee State Forest in north central Florida.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband Floyd Patton who died January 3, 1990. They were married June 27, 1958. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Edward Keysor; and long-time friend and companion, David MacKenzie.

Mammalu is survived by her daughter, Amy (Woody) Biggs of Byesville, Ohio; her sons, Chuck (Rose) Patton of Novato, California and Drew (Melissa) Patton of Pickerington, Ohio; seven grandchildren, Philip (Loren) Biggs, Brittany (Joe) Griffith, Jonathan (Lolita) Patton, Ashley Patton, Allison (Leatha) Patton, Arie (Leah) Patton and Ariana (Chad Pinkerton) Patton. Mammalu was also blessed with seven great grandchildren and many special Florida and horse-riding friends and neighbors.

At her request, private family services will be held at a later date.

Personal condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.black-eppersonfuneralhomes.com