Im sad to report that Janets mother, Mrs. Pat Stephens, passed away Monday afternoon after a long battle with Alzheimers Disease. For all who have experienced the disease with a loved one, you know how difficult it is to see a persons strength and personality slowly taken from them. My mother in law was a remarkable woman, who raised six children, mostly as a single mother at a time when there were not that many single mothers. She did it by working very hard and learning to stretch every dime she earned and building in all of her children a strong work ethic and sense of personal responsibility. She was way too proud to have depended on the government to bail her out, although she could have easily justified the need for assistance. On Sundays, her children were in church. That wasnt an option for them. Work and chores werent an option either. She raised strong and resilient children (I can attest to that!), and she was proud of all of them. But her children truly rose up to called her blessed, and they all adored her because they knew of her many sacrifices for them. As she was diagnosed with Alzheimers and her health became increasingly frail, she grew more and more anxious for the day when this side of her journey would be complete and she could start her eternal life free of disease and limitations. Throughout her life, she was not only busy working to take care of her children, but was a tireless volunteer in numerous community activities, especially in her retirement years. Her energy and creativity were astounding. There was nothing she couldnt do. Those of us who have been grafted into the family loved and admired her and all of her grandchildren knew she was the matriarch of the family. We will all miss her, but glad that the difficulty of the past few years is over. She was ready to bring her earthly life to a close, but she ends it with a large crowd of family, friends, and admirers saying, Thanks, Pat, for showing us what strength of character looks like. Here is her full obituary: Pat P. Stephens went to be with her Lord on July 28, 2014. She was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on September 5, 1929, and was preceded in death by her parents, George Edward Potter and Thelma Lucille Potter, and two sisters, Betty Ann Potter and Mary Sue Potter. Pat always considered her greatest accomplishment to be her children but in addition to raising six children, she was a tireless volunteer working with Hope in Action, Charitable Christian Medical Clinic of Hope, the Southwest Arkansas Arts Council, and the Hope Medical Park Hospital Auxiliary. In addition, she served as President of the Arkansas Hospital Auxiliary Association. In 2002, Pat received a Community Service Award presented by Channel 4. She was Hempstead County Clerk from 1967-1972. Pat was a member of the Akansas Chapter of the DAR and the First Baptist Church of Hope. She is survived by her children: Susan McCain Hinger and Jeff Hinger, San Antonio, Texas, Tal McCain and Nel McCain, Lake Charles. Louisiana, Mike McCain and Brenda McCain, Hope, Arkansas, Janet McCain Huckabee and Governor Mike Huckabee, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, Patty House, Pasadena, Texas, Kathy McCain, Hope, Arkansas, 14 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Pallbearers: Grandsons - Luke McCain, Jake McCain, James McCain, Daniel McCain, John Mark Huckabee, David Huckabee, Christopher Brown, and Chris Hinger. Visitation at Brazzel - Oakcrest Funeral Home, 1001 South Main, Hope, Arkansas from 6:00 - 7:30 pm on Wednesday, July 30, 2014. Funeral service at 2:00 pm on Thursday, July 31, 2014 at First Baptist Church, 315 South Main, Hope, Arkansas. Officiating will be Governor Mike Huckabee, son-in-law, and Bro. Mark Fischer, pastor of First Baptist Church, Hope, Arkansas. Private burial at Marlbrook Cemetery in Blevins, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Charitable Christian Medical Clinic of Hope, P. O. Box 374, Hope, Arkansas 71802 or the Ginny and Bob Shell Alzheimers Center, 14322 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Arkansas 72211 or Habitat for Humanity, 121 Habitat Street, Americus, Georgia 31709.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 17:37:22 +0000