Patricia Sims passed away on Saturday, May 25, 2019 at the Green House Cottages of Belle Meade at the age of 82 years after a 22 year battle with cancers.
Pat was born in Lansing, Michigan on May 11, 1937. She is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Olive (Merrill) Nash. She graduated from Bolton High School, Alexandria Louisiana in 1955 and then graduated from Michigan State University in 1958 with a BA in Political Science.
On August 27, 1960, she married Hardy C. Sims of Somerville, TN. He preceded her in death on May 7, 1990. They were married almost 40 years and spent many of those years raising their family in Paragould. She was also preceded in death by her brother and sister-in-law Charles and Florience Merrill.
Pat worked as a legal secretary at the law office of Branch, Thompson, Warmath and Dale for 20 years where she specialized in probate, tax, and developing new attorneys. Some say she should have gone to law school but instead she had a major career change later in life. In 1993 she entered seminary and earned her Masters of Divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary. She then went to be a pastor at Imboden United Methodist Church/Smithville United Methodist Church and then at First United Methodist Church of Trumann.
After her retirement in 2002, Pat continued her service to others by volunteering in many organizations including at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) organization, First United Methodist Church of Jonesboro and local hospitals. She also continued her love of travel by traveling around the country and Europe. Her favorite trips were to North Carolina and Hawaii to visit her sons and family.
Pat is survived by her two sons Clayton (Krisy) of Raleigh, NC and Brian (Sean Scates) of Kailua, HI and three adoring grandchildren – Elizabeth, Nick and Jimmy. As well as much other extended family.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 from 9:00-10:00 A.M at First United Methodist Church in Paragould. Funeral services will follow at 10:00 A.M. at the church with Rev. John Fleming officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church or the American Cancer Society.