Patsy Jean Harrison Roberts

Patsy Jean Harrison Roberts, of Crossett, Arkansas, passed away August 31, 2015, at the Life Touch Hospice in El Dorado, Arkansas. Born on April 22, 1937, she was the only child of Asa and Edna Brent Harrison. She grew up in Crossett, and upon graduation from Crossett High School, she received one of three Crossett Company Scholarships. She attended the University of Arkansas where she majored in education. She is preceded in death by her parents, by brother-in-law Bob Roberts, and by her husband Tom (TL) Roberts, whom she married May 28, 1961 in Crossett's First Baptist Church. She is survived by first cousins, Alice Williams, Judson Albritton, Bud Albritton, Kathleen Wooten, Bill Galbraith, Jess B. Galbraith, and by sister-in-law KarLynn Roberts, sister-in-law Linda Land and her husband Larry. Patsy was a seasoned educator; in fact, she had the distinction of having taught for fifty years. She began her career in Crossett, teaching eighth-grade English, and when her husband retired from his management job with JCPenney Company and they moved back to Crossett in 1993, she ended her career, teaching English at Crossett High School. During her teaching tenure, she was English Department Chair, and for the final three years of her service, she was Instructional Facilitator of Literacy, Grades 7-12. In the intervening years, because her husband's work often took them to many places, she taught in six other states: ten years in Texas (San Antonio, Victoria, and Uvalde); four years in New Jersey (Monmouth County CETA Program); two years in Alabama (Moblie); two years in Georgia (Valdosta); nine years in Louisiana (Bogalusa and New Orleans); and four years in Kentucky (Hopkinsville). Early in her profession, Patsy was recognized for her ability and hard work. In 1965, she was named Outstanding Young Educator in Bogalusa, Louisiana; in 1995, she was elected Teacher of the Year at Crossett High School; and again in 2003 she was elected Teacher of the Year at Crossett High and District Teacher of the Year. Her devotion to education extended to her civic and community activities: She served as board member and president of the Crossett Community Scholarship Program. She was a member of the Crossett Library Board, member of the Educational Alliance, member of the Crossett Historical Society, member of the Buildings and Grounds Committee of First Baptist Church, member of Crossett Book Club, and a member of The Arkansas and Ashley County Retired Teachers. It is a well-known fact: Patsy loved beautiful clothes, and she always dressed with a flair for fashion, down to the matching accessories. In the classroom, she was ever the impeccable, well-groomed professional. Her students were drawn to that, but more than anything else they were drawn to her genuine interest in them as individuals. She was a "you can do this, and I'm by your side to help you do it" teacher. She made each student be his very best self. They adored her for it. One student wrote the following: "You have touched my life forever. I will never forget you." Hundreds more could echo this sentiment. She truly loved "her children." A memorial service celebrating the life of Patsy Roberts will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, September 3, 2015 at the First Baptist Church of Crossett with Bro. Jamie Staley officiating under the direction of Jones Funeral Home of Crossett, Ark. (www.jonesservice.com) As a member of First Baptist Church, Patsy would be honored to be remembered by memorials to First Baptist Church Building Fund, Crossett Community Scholarship Fund (Patsy J. and Tom Roberts Scholarship), or Crossett Library.