PATRICIA “PATTI” GOSS RETZLOFF
died in the arms of her loved ones December 24, 2020, at the age of 94. Patti was born in Fort Smith, Ark. on January 25, 1926, to Jessie Wadsworth and John Paul Hunter.
Patti was predeceased by her first husband, Robert Dixon Goss; and their youngest son, John David Goss (Trina); her second husband Henry “Hank-o” Retzloff; her sister, Paula Swift; and her brother, Jim Fred Hunter.
Patti grew up in Fort Smith in a colorful family of big personalities. Her grandmother, Belle Wadsworth (whom we knew as “Great Big Mommy”). imbued Patti with a love of nature and of art. Patti gardened all her life (there were no weeds in her world, every sprout deserved to flourish), loved being outdoors and relished every sky and landscape. She golfed and bicycled and had great times with all of us camping on islands in Lake Ouachita, where she slalomed like a professional! When her second husband Hank-o introduced Patti to watercolors, she expressed a whole new aspect of her personality and painted until the end of her life. Patti was a signature member of the Mid-Southern Watercolor Society and her paintings grace our homes and the homes of family and many friends and businesses.
Patti is survived by three children, Leigh Sheryl Goss Parks (Matthew), Robert Dixon Goss (Marcia), and Jane Dottery Goss Evans (Robert Thomas). Her grandchildren include Loriee Dawn Evans (Mark Funk), Lisa Jane Evans (Cliff Anderson), Rebecca Goss Dwyer, Rachel Elizabeth Parks, Emily June Goss Lakemaker (Jarvis), Michael Houston Parks (Kimberly), and Forrest Dixon Goss (Kelsie Hammons). Her great-grandchildren are Jacob Ron Evans-Funk, Zoe Marie Evans-Funk, Ainsley Jane Anderson, Pace Adalay Anderson, Cole Dwyer, Emmett Dwyer, Brett Dwyer, Prairie Meli, Elizabeth Parks, Emmett Parks, and Addie Gray Goss. Her bonus children are Jerry Evans (Joie Wallis), Diane Haynes, Brad Retzloff (Janet), and Linda Yates (Mark), and their many children and grandchildren, whom Mother also loved; and by beloved nieces and nephews; and especially her sister Paula’s children, Cynthia LaCroix (Francois) and James Steven Swift.
Mother was made of pure kindness and love, with a good bit of spice. She taught us all to love one another without condition, to take care of one another, to be good citizens and strive toward truth and justice, and to care for our home, Earth. She taught us that these rules apply to every person in every nation. Mother said, “Jesus teaches us we are all brothers and sisters — we love one another and ourselves alike.” She taught these ideals and she lived these ideals to her last breath.
There will be a funeral service at 10a.m., Saturday, September 25, 2021 at First United Methodist Church in Little Rock, 723 Center, Little Rock, Ark. 72201. Covid precautions will be strictly followed. Please remember Mother with donations to the church (fumclr.org), or to Women’s Own Worth (womensownworth.org), or to Arkansas Hospice (arkansashospice.org).