CONWAY — Patricia Ann “Pat” Holmes Hudson
passed away on February 24, 2024, at age 91.
She was born October 15, 1932, in Magnolia, Ark., to Rev. and Mrs. O. E. Holmes, the youngest of six children. Her father was a Methodist minister. At the time of his ministry in the Little Rock conference, it was the practice to move the ministers often - every 2-4 years.
Pat started school in Nashville, Ark., and graduated high school in Crossett, Ark., in 1950. She went to Hendrix College, graduated with a B.A. in English, and met and married her husband, Richard W. Hudson. Pat and Richard taught in the Little Rock schools before moving to UA Monticello for five years and moved on to Nashville, Tenn., to Vanderbilt University, where Richard pursued advanced studies. They moved to Conway, Ark., in 1962 for Richard’s employment at UCA (then ASTC) in the English department, where he taught for 31 years.
In Conway, Pat found the job she was meant for — assistant manager of Heiligers bookstore on Front Street. She was there for 13 years until 1984, when Mr. Heiligers decided to retire and sell the property.
Pat was preceded in death by her parents, Otis and Mary Holmes; her husband, Richard; and all of her brothers and sisters, W. L. Holmes of Houston, Texas, Rachel Holmes Thompson of Monticello, Ark., O. E. Holmes Jr (Bert) of Dallas, Texas, Dr. B. E. Holmes of Lonoke, Ark., and Mary Margaret Holmes Kirchman of Russellville, Ark.
She is survived by her two favorite sons, Marc (Becky) of Conway, Ark., and Michael (Cathy) of Conway, Ark.; three granddaughters, Lauren Flynn of St. Louis, Mo., Meredith Chinnery of St. Louis, Mo., and Rachel Hudson of Bryant, Ark.; three great-granddaughters, Madeleine Howard, and Harper and Sloane Flynn of St. Louis, Mo.; and rwo great-grandsons, Carson and Brooks Chinnery of St. Louis, Mo. Pat’s ashes will be placed in the Columbarium with Richard at Crestlawn Cemetery in Conway, Ark.
The family would like to give special thanks to the caring staff at Stonebridge Senior Living Facility in Conway, Ark., and at Conway Regional Medical Center. A memorial service will be held at Roller McNutt Funeral Home on Monday, March 11, 2024, at 2 p.m.