Baltis Daniel "Pat" Bourne

Baltis Daniel "Pat" Bourne, age 96, passed away on Saturday, July 26, 2014, at his home in Sardis, Ark. He was born Dec. 5, 1917, in Pine Bluff, Ark., a son of the late Baltis D. Bourne Sr. and Jessie Marie Campbell Bourne. He was a United States Army veteran, having served his country in the Pacific Theatre (China, Burma, India Campaign) during World War II. It was during training at the Great Lakes Training Center that he met the love of his life, Mary Pauline Fahl. Upon his re-deployment overseas, they married and returned to Arkansas where he resumed his career as a conductor for Missouri–Pacific Railroad. He retired from MOPAC in 1983. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, who passed away on their 52nd wedding anniversary; one daughter, Dr. Sharon Jane Bourne Yelich (Mike); a son, Michael E. Bourne (Judy); two brothers, William (Mary) of Hagarville and James of Little Rock; as well as a sister, Mary Katherine Lewis of Little Rock. He is survived by five sons, L. Patrick Bourne (Rebecca) of Benton, LTC (Ret) Stephen J. Bourne, Robert D. Bourne, Joseph F. Bourne and Richard R. Bourne, all of Sardis; daughters, LTC (Ret) Mary Ann Moore (Ralph) of San Antonio, Texas, Katherine P. Mishaw (Dr. Cliff ) of Houston, Texas, and Melissa Bourne Vandiver of Little Rock; a dearly-loved sister-in-law, "Aunt Mary" Bourne; 17 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren. A life-long Catholic, he was a charter parishioner of St. Theresa's Catholic Church, since its transition from a mission church to an established parish. He faithfully attended mass until frailty and his health precluded his ability to do so. A rosary will be held at 6 p.m., Tuesday, July 29, 2014, in the chapel of Griffin Leggett Forest Hills Funeral Home, with visitation to follow until 8 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, at St. Theresa's Catholic Church, with Father Mark Wood, celebrant. Burial will follow in Forest Hills Cemetery, under the direction of Griffin Leggett Forest Hills Funeral Home. 501-455-1067. Please share your messages of love, comfort and support with the family at www.griffinleggettforesthills.com. Pallbearers will be his five sons and a grandson, Daniel F. Bourne of Bigelow.