Jean Pate Strickland

Jean Pate-Strickland, age 87, of Little Rock died Sunday July 28, 2013 at The Beebe Retirement Center. She was born June 16, 1926 to Bessie and Albert Smith in Plainview, Arkansas at the foot of Petit Jean Mountain. Jean graduated from Plummerville High School in 1944. After graduation, she worked at Jacksonville Ordnance Plant during the war effort. Returning war vet, Maurice Pate met Jean while she worked as a waitress in Little Rock. They were married for 37 years. She started her long career working at Blass Department Store working at the soda fountain on the Mezzanine. After Blass became Pfeifers, she worked her way to become assistant manager in the credit department. When Pfeifers became Dillard's, she grew into the position as Senior Credit Manager of Dillard's National Bank. Along the way, she also served as President of both Arkansas Credit Women International and Arkansas Woman's Chamber of Commerce. After retirement and widowed by cancer, she found solace in another cancer survivor spouse, Karl Strickland. They were happily married for ten years. She loved to sing and was active in the choirs of Calvary Baptist Church of Little Rock, the Phoenix Baptist Church, and later at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church. She enjoyed volunteering at PHUMC; where she served as Chair of St. Stevens Society and Chair of Communion at Home Committee and also, St. Vincent Medical Infirmary. She became president of their Auxiliary during 2003. Jean is preceded in death by her loving husbands; Maurice Pate and Karl Strickland and her great grandson, Errol Pate-Terry. She is survived by her children; Gina Pate-Terry and husband, Lee of Butte, Montana and Mike Pate of Ward; step sons, Brian Strickland and wife, Kathy, Scott Strickland and wife, Linda; nine grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church in her name to the Caring Ministry, 4823 Woodlawn Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205. Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe. Funeral will be 2 p.m. Friday, August 2, 2013, at Westbrook Funeral Home with burial in Old Austin Cemetery. Arrangements by Westbrook, a Smith Family Funeral Home. www.SmithFamilyCares.com.