She was the daughter of machinist Pat Patterson and the former Rosemary Wilson, an official in the Miss Universe contest.

Her comments about her efforts to secure the part were later quoted in an interview:"I did well on the F-Troop audition and I knew it...So when the producers asked me, 'You're eighteen, right?'

'"[4]Once Patterson secured the part, she finally told the series' producers her real age.

While living in Hawaii, Patterson performed in the play Butterflies Are Free, with Barbara Rush and Dirk Benedict.

She appeared in other plays such as House of Blue Leaves for the University of Hawaii, and played the part of Peggy in The Front Page written by Charles MacArthur, and directed by her then-husband James MacArthur (Charles' son).

Patterson entertained troops in Vietnam with the Johnny Grant and Friends show.

[7] Her second tour was in June 1968 with Vicki Lawrence and Karen MacQuarrie (Miss Welcome to Long Beach 1968).

[11] In 1965, the Motion Picture and Television Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists group selected Patterson as one of 12 young actresses named Deb Stars of 1966.

MacArthur was known for playing Danny "Danno" Williams in the TV series Hawaii Five-O.

Patterson died in a nursing home in Hollister, Missouri, on August 20, 2015, at age 66.

[14] Her F Troop co-star Larry Storch (Corporal Agarn) announced her death on Facebook as follows: "It's with a heavy heart that we can let you know our beloved Wrangler Jane, Melody Patterson, passed away today.