Candidate Questionnaire
What is your name: Sheila Patterson
What office are you seeking: Henderson County Coroner
What is your age: 72
Please provide family background: I was married to Nathan Patterson for 24 years. I have been widowed for 21 years.
Children:
Son – Chad Patterson, his wife Jama, they have 3 sons: Levi, 20, Nathan, 10, and Charles, 5.
Daughter – Alicia Nelson, has 2 sons, Walker, 16, Abram, 13.
What is your educational background: I have an associate’s degree in nursing, graduating in 1973 from the University of Kentucky, Henderson Community College. I have a master coroner award from the Kentucky Coroner’s Association presented in 2025. I have worked over 300 cases, and I have worked over 450 cases in my 19 years as Deputy Coroner, from January 2007 until July 2024 when I was appointed to the Chief Deputy Coroner by Coroner Bruce Farmer. In January 2025, Bruce retired and I was appointed to the position of coroner to fulfill the last two years of Bruce’s term.
Have you been elected to political office previously: I have not previously been elected to a political office.
What is your professional background (Please include career and any boards and volunteer work): I worked as a nurse’s aide at Medco Center in Henderson while attending nursing school at the Henderson Community College. I worked two years at Medco Center as an RN after graduation, then five years at Redbanks Nursing Home as an RN and finished my nursing career at Community Methodist Hospital. I worked at Methodist Hospital for 32 1/2 years, 30 of those years as a Nursing House Supervisor. Nathan and I moved to Zion in 1992, and we both got involved with the Zion Volunteer Fire Department. I was a first responder and later was secretary and treasurer for the fire department. I am currently the treasurer for the fire department. I am an active member of my church, Bellfield Baptist Church.
Why are you running for office: I am running for the office of coroner to continue the work we have been doing: treating families like we’d like to be treated on one of the most difficult days of their lives, giving families resource information about how to deal with their deceased loved ones final wishes/disposition, and to provide comfort to the grieving families.
If elected to office, what would be your top three goals:
- To maintain the cohesive staff I have to meet the needs of our community.
- To speak with legislators for suggestions for our indigent population with final expenses.
- To ask legislators for suggestions for the nursing home residents who do not have prearrangements made for final disposition at death.
Why should people vote for you: I believe I am the qualified person for this job. I have been involved with the coroner’s office as a deputy coroner for the past 19 years, but I have been the record manager as well. I review every case we are called to investigate. I will continue to represent the coroner’s office and this community to the best of my ability.
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