Patricia Ann Guffey

Patricia Ann Wilkins Guffey, on July 20, 2015 at 7:45 am, left the constraints of this life to join her husband whom she missed daily for the past twenty years. We are all saddened by her death, but take great joy in knowing she is now with her Lord and those of her family who have gone before her. Now she can laugh, sing, and be the "Patsy" we all knew. Born April 11, 1935, my mother was the the third of four children. Her two older sisters, Noreen Murphy (deceased) and Phyllis Stegmann were her idols. David Wilkins, her little brother was her joy. Her father, Noland Wilkins (deceased), was a farmer and mathematician. Her mother, Irene Wilkins (deceased) was the example farm wife, rock of the family, and the one we all knew was on our side. Patsy was shy, but knew she was loved by a supportive family. Patsy met J. W. Guffey at Weiner High School when they were in the 7th grade. They fell in love and were together until his death in 1995. Married on December 23, 1956, J. W. and Patsy had two sons. James Stephen Guffey was born January 3, 1958. Daryl Ray Guffey was born July 15, 1960. Patsy was a teacher. She taught elementary grades at Marion, Weiner, and Hickory Ridge. She was raised in the Otwell Christian Church, a long-time member of the Weiner Baptist Church, and helped establish the Baptist Church of Bismarck. My mother's health rapidly declined after my father's death. She spent the last 12 years of her life in Bryant so that her care could be managed by her sons. We will choose to remember her from the days when we teased her, laughed with her, and actually misbehaved so she would get after us with a fly swatter. She never weighed much more than 100 pounds, so providing discipline to two active boys was more funny than anything else. When she had tolerated all she could from us she would say, "You just wait until your daddy comes home!" That was when she could see two roughneck boys do anything she asked. We will miss our mother, but we are happy she is now with daddy and the angels. God is good all the time. She is survived by her sons, Dr. J. Stephen Guffey and wife Dr. Marsha Guffey of Bryant and Daryl Ray Guffey and wife Debbie of Bentonville; a sister and her husband, Phyllis and Wallace Stegmann of Cincinnati, Ohio; a brother and his wife, David and Pat Wilkins of Jonesboro; four grandchildren, Sarah Kinser (Charlie) of North Little Rock, Daniel Guffey of Little Rock, Hunter Guffey and Hayden Guffey both of Elkins and a great-grandchild, Gus Kinser; several nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by her husband, J. W. Guffey and a sister, Noreen Murphy. A celebration of her life will be 10 a.m. Friday, July 24, 2015 at Gregg–Langford Bookout Funeral Home Chapel with Jim Roberts officiating. Burial will follow at McDaniel Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 9 a.m. until time of service at the funeral home. Honored to serve as pallbearers are Doug Holmes, Daniel Guffey, Charles Kinser, Gary Wilkins, Dr. Stephen Guffey and Daryl Guffey. Lasting memorials may be sent to Otwell Christian Church, 46 CR 221 Jonesboro, Ark. 72404 or your favorite charity. Online: www.mcnabbfuneralhomes.com.