Patsy Joan Carr, of Allen, Texas, passed away on November 15, 2023, at the age of 92. She was born on August 27, 1931, in Texarkana, Arkansas, to John Joseph and Doris (Hefner) Military. Patsy's legacy is one of love, warmth, and a life well-lived. Patsy graduated from Arkansas High School in Texarkana, Arkansas, and later attended Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where she was a cheerleader her freshman year. On February 4, 1951, she married the love of her life, Reagan Elias Carr, Jr. at Beech Street Baptist Church in Texarkana. Together, they built a life full of joy, laughter, and shared experiences. She was the first of the three sisters to marry, and Patsy and Reagan were married for 50 years until he left this world to meet Jesus in 2001. She has missed him every day since then, but we are sure she is rejoicing at being with him once again. They shared three children and worked hard to give them a good life.
Patsy often expressed her emotions in a loving manner. Occasionally, when she was frustrated, she resorted to a favorite four-letter word to express her feelings. When she did say the sh*t word, her husband (the Baptist minister) would very calmly say to her, “Patsy, don’t say sh*t. Da*n sounds so much more sophisticated.” We would all laugh (including her) and suddenly the mood in the room was lightened. These kinds of interactions made them seem more real to us and we were privy to a relationship filled with love and acceptance. Their relationship was a wonderful example to us of what a great relationship could be.
Patsy dedicated many years of her professional life to North Texas OBGYN as a secretary before retiring. Her commitment to her work was commendable. The hardest job Patsy had though, was that of a pastor’s wife. It was never-ending, and a job she loved. She loved serving others and being a partner to our Father and to doing God’s work. Beyond her career, Patsy was a woman of many talents and passions. She had a deep love for music and showcased her musical abilities by playing the piano and lending her voice to the church choir. She enjoyed collecting jewelry, cooking, and dancing. Patsy could dance a mean jitterbug, much to our Fathers Baptist feet chagrin. She would always laugh at him though and say the only reason he didn’t like dancing was because he had two left feet. He had to admit that that was true. Our brother however, inherited Mom’s ability to jitterbug and they could really cut a rug around the house. She was an expert seamstress and often made our clothes as we were growing up. Her love for the arts extended to the world of cinema, where she found joy in watching old movies, and creating a connection between generations through shared stories. A faithful member of Waddle Street Baptist Church in McKinney, Texas, Patsy found solace and community in her religious faith. She lived a life guided by principles of kindness, generosity, and love for her fellow human beings.
Patsy is survived by her daughters, Dana Carr Janczak and Gayle Carr; grandchildren, Noah Janczak, Wyatt Janczak, Nicholes Janczak, Nathanael Janczak, Grant Janczak, Wiley Justin Griffin, and Jarred Kyle Griffin; foster granddaughter, Michelle Scott; step-grandchildren, Jon Janczak, Christopher Janczak, and Kelley Hansen.
Patsy was preceded in death by her beloved husband, her son, and her parents. As we mourn her passing, we celebrate the rich tapestry of a life well-lived, leaving us with cherished memories and an enduring legacy of love and joy.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas. Interment will follow at Shannon Rose Hill Cemetery in Fort Worth. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Monday afternoon from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home. A reception will follow at Grand Reserve Apartments Clubhouse, 150 Enterprise Drive, McKinney, Texas 75069.
The service will be livestreamed at https://celebrationoflife.tv/blog/patsy-joan-carr. After the service, the recorded livestream will be available at the same link location.