Lucile Elaine Patteson Bondurant's Obituary
Lucile Elaine Patteson Bondurant, 81, passed away peacefully on December 29th. She was born on January 15, 1944, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and moved to Memphis at the age of five. Lucile attended the Holton-Arms School in Washington, D.C., and later graduated Summa Cum Laude from Vanderbilt University with a degree in English, where she was a proud member of Kappa Delta Sorority.
Lucile was an avid reader and a master of The New York Times crossword puzzles. She was always the first in the house to solve Wheel of Fortune puzzles and answer Jeopardy questions. Her granddaughter, Lucie, inherited the same love of words and spent many hours doing word searches with “Lulu.” Lucile was an active member of the Junior League of Memphis for many years. She cherished the simple joys of life—walking on the beach collecting seashells, fondly recalling childhood trips to Ponte Vedra, FL, and later, vacations with her husband and family to Hilton Head Island, SC. Lucile's green thumb was legendary; everything she planted flourished, especially her beloved orchids that filled her home and greenhouse with beauty. Her husband, John, fondly remembers many wonderful days spent gardening in the backyard together and long walks around the neighborhood.
A true animal lover and gifted dog whisperer, Lucile never met a dog who didn’t love her. She especially enjoyed long walks with her sweet goldendoodle, Buster, her constant companion, along with her son Reid and his husky, Sasha. Lucile and Reid also enjoyed spending time together in the kitchen preparing meals. Her granddaughters, Lucie and Katherine, delighted in Lulu’s worldclass sandwiches and homemade desserts, swimming with Lulu in her pool and watching movies together.
Lucile’s lifelong passion was dancing in all its forms. When the Ice Chalet at the Mall of Memphis opened, Lucile, her sister Patricia, and her daughter Lawrence embraced ice skating together, spending many joyful years on the Memphis Ice Capades drill team and traveling for competitions throughout the South and Midwest. Lucile was also an accomplished competitive ice dancer, admired for her elegance and grace. After the Ice Capades closed, she and Patricia took up ballroom dancing and competed in numerous events, excelling at everything from waltzes and foxtrots to tangos and paso dobles. Her poise and quiet elegance on the dance floor will always be remembered. Lucile will be fondly remembered by friends and family for her beauty, poise, and gentle spirit.
She is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, John Reid Bondurant; her daughter Lawrence Bondurant (Jeff Finley); her son Reid Bondurant; her cherished grandchildren, Lucile (Lucie) Finley and Katherine Finley; her brothers, Alan Patteson Jr. and Carter Patteson; her sister Patricia Moore; her brother-in-law Roy Moore; and a large extended family of nieces and nephews.
Lucile was predeceased by her parents, Alan Guy Patteson and Katherine Carter Patteson, as well as her sister, Mary Starke Patteson Meyer.
Visitation will be held at Memorial Park Funeral Home on Saturday, January 3, 2026 at 11 a.m. with graveside services to follow at 12 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Church Health Center of Memphis or the Memphis Humane Society in her honor.
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