Out-of-state

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Captain Patsy Anne Long, Ret., USAF, R.N., passed away peacefully and without discomfort in the quietness of her home on

January 5, 2018.

Patsy was born on January 15,

1936, in Little

Rock, Arkansas, to Elton and Raymelle Garner Long.

She is survived by her brother, James E. Long, Sr. Ret. USA, of D’iberville, Mississippi. She was preceded in death by her two sisters, Helen Drennan Newman and Carolyn Sue Myers. She has five nephews, James E. Long, Jr. of Colorado Springs, Colo., David B. Drennan of Searcy, Ark., Matthew L. and Mark E. Myers of North Richland Hills, Texas, and Steven E. Long of Hot Springs, Ark. Her nieces include Lisa A. Gottsch of Colorado Springs, Colo., Jewelyn D. Sims of Sanibel, Fla., Mitzie R. Toland of Pearcy, Ark., and Patricia L. Hackney of Eureka, Calif.

Patsy attended Mabelvale High School and graduated from Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957. She continued her education at the Arkansas Baptist Nursing Program, and completed her nursing education there as President of the Student Body, and star basketball player. While in the Air Force, she attended Florida State University, for advanced training in nursing. Patsy’s employment began at Harris Hospital, in Fort Worth, Texas, where she was an operating room nurse. She was later employed by the Veterans Administration in Little Rock, Arkansas. She joined the United States Air Force and attained the rank of Captain, stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, during the Cuban Crisis, serving as Chief Operating Room Nurse. Finally, she was employed at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Gainesville, Florida, where she worked as an operating room nurse until illness forced her retirement. Since 1972, Patsy has been retired affected by the illness of Multiple Sclerosis, and was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2017. Patsy was known as a very cheerful, devout, and loving nurse, who gave her best care to the patients she was assigned to. She was totally devoted to health care of her patients. She was held in the highest esteem by the patients she served. Patsy enjoyed sewing, painting, fishing, and traveling when she was physically able to. She was a member of First Baptist Church, in Gainesville, and Jennie B. Hopkins Chapter, OES, Little Rock, Arkansas.

The family wishes to express the deepest and loving gratitude to Dr. George Feussner and staff, who treated her for multiple sclerosis for an extended period of time.

The family requests no flowers and any memorials be given to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society or Cancer Research Foundation. Patsy will be transported to Little Rock, Arkansas, where she will be buried in Pinecrest Cemetery. Locally, arrangements are by Forest Meadows Funeral Home.

–––––❖––––– CHICAGO — Effie Eddie Pitts Lee, 100, of Chicago, Ill., passed on December

25, 2017. She is survived by husband, Daniel

Lee of Chicago,

Ill., and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives of Little Rock, Ark.

Mother Effie was a longtime member of Greater Institutional AME Church in Chicago, Ill. Visitation will be Thursday, January 11, 2018, 11 a.m., at Ruffin & Jarrett Funeral Home (501) 372-1305. Interment will follow at 12 noon at Haven Of Rest Cemetery.

–––––❖––––– MEMPHIS — Wayne Woodruff Pyeatt, age 93, died peacefully January 8, 2018.

He was born September 22, 1924, in Prairie Grove, Ark. He graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1941 and attended Hendrix College for two years before joining the US Navy where he served as a gunnery instructor. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1948, and joined Searcy Bank where he worked until 1960 accepting a position with First National Bank in Little Rock, he served as President for the Searcy Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Pyeatt joined National Bank of Commerce, Memphis as President in 1966 and he became Chairman 1973. He later served as Chairman of Home Federal Savings and Loan and Memphis Fire Insurance Company. He was an instructor with the Stonier School of Banking (Rutgers University), the Fogelman School of Business (University of Memphis) and Rhodes College, and he served on numerous boards including the Memphis Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

Mr. Pyeatt was actively involved with community organizations, serving as President of Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce, Memphis Rotary Club, Memphis Plough Community Foundation, Family Service and William R. Moore School, Health Resources Development Corporation and Financial Executive Institute.

He was a recipient of the Francis Coe award for outstanding achievement in Memphis public education and the Horace Mann Award from the Memphis Board of Education. He was an avid fisherman, tennis player, reader and traveller.

Mr. Pyeatt is preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, the former Betty Gean Hunt, and by a daughter, Lynn Elizabeth Pyeatt. He is survived by a brother Phillip Pyeatt of Searcy, Ark.; daughter Sarah Pyeatt Black (Bobby) of Memphis; a son Robert Ewing Pyeatt, (Libba) of Asheville, N.C.; five grandchildren: Jason Pyeatt Black of Memphis, Michael Harrison Black (Laura) of Memphis, Elizabeth Bouchelle Pyeatt of Arlington, Va., Robert Ewing Pyeatt, III of New York, N.Y., and John McKee Pyeatt of Asheville, N.C.; and a great-granddaughter (Natalie Grace Black).

The family wishes to thank Katherine Morris, of Attendant Care Services, and the entire staff of Allen Morgan Health Center at Trezevant Manor, especially LaDonna Pugh, Donna McGee, Aston Williams and Carol Simmons for the care given to Mr. Pyeatt.

There will be a visitation from 1 p.m. until the time of the Memorial Service at 2 p.m. on January 11th at Memorial Park Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to The Church Health Center, the Lynn Elizabeth Pyeatt Schol-

arship at Rhodes College, or to the organization of the donor’s choice.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis, Tenn. 38119 (901) 767-8930. “Celebrating Life … Behind the Stone Wall”.

–––––❖––––– TEXARKANA, Texas — Martha Elizabeth Smith Margrave was born on August

13, 1926, to Elmer W. & Irene Chrisp Smith, in Little Rock, Ark. She was a graduate of Little Rock High School and attended Little Rock Jr. College, where she met the love of her life, Fred Nicholas (Nick) Margrave, Jr. Her parents had always stressed the importance of a college education, so in 1948 Martha graduated with a BA degree in Home Economics from Arkansas State Teachers College. Days after their graduations, Martha and Nick married at Asbury Methodist Church in Little Rock.

From that day on they devoted their family life to the local United Methodist Church. Adhering to the words of John Wesley (“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.”), they lived long enough to see their faith passed on to great-grandchildren.

Always in the center of Methodist activities, Martha served her churches’ as Sunday School teacher, education director, member of the United Methodist Women, weekday preschool teacher, and as a lay delegate to the Little Rock Annual Conference. Of all the time that she devoted to the church, the work that she did as a lay member of the Board of Ordained Ministry was where she felt she made her most meaningful contribution.

She touched the lives of many as she taught Home Economics at Camden High School. Over her teaching career, many changes occurred, and she was very encouraged when male students began to show up in her classroom. She was always touched when former students reached out to her on Facebook. She made virtually every garment their three daughters wore and enjoyed quilting, knitting, and teaching her grandchildren to sew.

Her faith never wavered even as she endured the death of her cherished youngest daughter, Susan Elizabeth Margrave Bonner; her adored eldest grandchild, Charles Patrick (Chuck) Weber, MD; and her loving son-by-marriage, Patrick Lowry Weber, MD. Her brothers and their wives, Mr. & Mrs. Elmer W. Smith, Jr, and Mr. & Mrs. Edward F. Smith, Sr., and her brother-inlaw, W.A. (Buddy) Margrave, Sr. also went before her.

After 70 years of marriage, her beloved Nick graced her with an answer to prayer when he preceded her in death by four months.

She leaves the following legacy of love: From Texarkana, Texas, daughter, Mary Katherine Margrave Weber; grandchildren, Katherine Weber (Texarkana), and Dr. Michael Andrew (Drew) & Mary Elizabeth Weber (Tyler, Texas); great-grandchildren, Evelyn, Jackson, & Martha Patterson and Chuck, Smith, & Andrew Weber. From Nashville, Tenn., daughter and sonin-law, Marti Margrave & Fred Artibee; grandchildren, Jamey and Jen Campbell-Girten (Gallatin, Tenn.), Becca & Quentin Watkins (Raleigh, N.C.), Madeline & Stasa Artibee-Bakliza (Urbana, Ill.), and Kate & Nick Artibee-Smallwood (Oakland, Calif.); great-grandchildren, Mason & Miller Campbell & Tenny Smallwood. From Denton, Texas, grandchildren Anna & Preston Fuqua; great-grandchildren Elizabeth & Sadie Fuqua. From Shreveport, La., Tiffany & Stephen Bell and Charlie, Kate, & Samantha Bell. From Little Rock, Mrs. W.A. Margrave, Sr. In addition, she was loved by nieces, nephews, and four generations of friends.

To quote her Croatian friends, “We believe that her presence will continue as long as there are people that knew her, respected her and loved her.”

The family would like to thank Vi Garnett for her years of tireless devotion; and Angela Griffin, Dela Hill, Sally Ferguson, and Hospice of Texarkana, for the gentle, loving care that allowed our mother to remain at home.

In lieu of flowers, and in honor of her love for children and her passion for family, we humbly request contributions to Opportunities, Inc. at 6101 N. State Line, Texarkana, Texas, 75503 or to TEAMMERCY.org at 1079 W. Round Grove Rd., Suite 200-504, Lewisville, Texas, 75067.

A celebration of a life well lived will be held on Thursday, Jan. 11, at 10 a.m., First United Methodist Church, 400 E. 6th, Texarkana, Ark., with the guidance of Rev. Jaimie Alexander.

A worshipful graveside service will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Crestview Memorial Park in Hot Springs, Ark., with the guidance of Rev. David Wilson.

Both services are under the direction of Gross Funeral Home of Hot Springs.