Patsy Hale Gunn (Pat E. Gunn), 86, passed into her next life on Monday, January 13, 2025, in Rogers, Arkansas. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish Center at 232 Passion Play Rd., Eureka Springs, Arkansas where the St. James’ Episcopal Church temporarily holds services. The Rev. David Angus officiating.
Pat was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Charles T. Gunn; father, Lesley G. Hale; mother, Bertha Holbert Hale Evans; stepfather, Coy Manton Evans; sister, Betty Loyd; brother, Lesley J. Hale; beloved sister- from-another-mother, Joy Watson Pike and Biscuit.
She is survived by daughter, Kathryn Janeice Gunn of Holiday Island; son, Charles David Gunn of Brighton, Colorado; grandsons, Matthew Graeme Bice and wife, Julie, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Sean Cameron Bice and wife, Marisol, of Sachse, Texas, Joseph Colin Bice of Fort Worth, Texas, Joshua Taylor Gunn and wife, Jordan, of Lochbuie, Colorado, Jacob Ryan Gunn-Sandell and wife, Lauren, of Denver, Colorado; great-grandsons, Bradley Cameron Bice and Walker Taylor Gunn; great-granddaughter, Willow Grace Gunn; her “favorite niece,” Cynthia Gunn Neiderhaus; nephews, Christopher Gunn, Terry Gunn, Corey Gunn and Conner Gunn, and many friends she loved dearly and considered her ‘extended’ family.
Patsy Earl Hale was born May 26, 1938, to Lesley Grant Hale and Bertha Holbert Hale in Chillicothe, Texas as a massive dust storm engulfed the town. In 1941 the family moved to Arlington, Texas, a typical, small college town where trips to the big cities of Fort Worth and Dallas were major events. In 2022 she published her autobiography titled “Child of the Red Sky,” so her grandchildren and great-grandchildren would know about the Dust Bowl Era she was born into, and the thriving college town where she literally grew up on the campus of what was then North Texas Agricultural College (now the University of Texas at Arlington). Her story described her life as a child growing up during World War II and the many changes that turned the little town into a city and the nation into an industrial giant after the end of the war.
On July 12, 1957, Pat married Charles Thomas Gunn in Seymour, Texas. They lived in Bedford, Texas for 33 years until her retirement from a career as a Human Resources Generalist; primarily as a Technical Recruiter for Bell Helicopter’s Joint Venture with the Royal Government of Iran and GTE (now Verizon). After retirement Pat and Charles moved to Lake Kiowa, Texas where for 15 years they enjoyed a slower pace of life with wonderful new friends. Charles took up golf and Pat took up bridge. Best of all they met others who also loved their favorite domino game, “42,” apparently know only to Texans. “42” games were scheduled for at least one night a week. It was a time of relaxing with friends sitting on patios or porches sharing their life stories, solving the world’s problems, but mostly enjoying jokes and laughter and a peacefulness “work life” had little time for; it was a time of impromptu potluck dinners or spontaneous weekend trips to the horse races in Oklahoma or casino trips to Las Vegas. Pat referred to Kiowa as “our Camelot” until the advancement of Charles’ Parkinson’s Disease dictated a change for them.
In 2010 Pat and Charles moved to Holiday Island, Arkansas to live near their daughter. Ten short months after the move, Charles passed away as the result of a fall related to Parkinson’s. Texas friends expected Pat to move back to Texas immediately, but she had come to love the little town of Eureka Springs and Holiday Island. After Charles’ death she took up bridge again, joined the Holiday Island Fire Auxiliary, Genealogy Club, Quilters’ Guild and volunteered in the ECHO Clinic office in Eureka Springs. Most of all she loved her church family at St. James’ Episcopal Church and found great joy in their fellowship. There she served many years as the administrator of the Pastoral Care Team and was teasingly and affectionately addressed as “Mother Superior.”
Pat valued kindness, honesty, ethics and respect for every person no matter their social standing. She had a deep love of humanity, especially for those who were disadvantaged and defenseless, for animals and Mother Earth. She was committed to work for equal civil rights for every person regardless of race, religion, nationality, gender and sexual orientation.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation or the American Heart Foundation should friends desire. Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson Funeral Service. Online condolences may be sent to nelsonfuneral. com.