Patsy Jean Smith

Patsy Smith, a longtime resident of Wellton, Arizona, passed away on January 6, 2024. She was 82 years old. Born July 5, 1941, to Dorthula and Ellis Young in Clarksville, Arkansas, she moved with her family to Wellton in 1954.

Patsy worked at Wellton Elementary School for 22 years. She believed in the value of education and after her retirement continued to volunteer her time tutoring students. She was especially proud of the fact that all four of her children graduated from Northern Arizona University.

Extremely supportive of all her children, she and her husband Bobby were always ready to help, no matter what was needed. A doting grandmother, she was always up for playing a board game, cooking a favorite meal, or having a sleepover when asked by one of her grandchildren. She enjoyed traveling around the state of Arizona to watch high school sports when her children and grandchildren were participating. Her children and grandchildren can also attest to the fact that she was a crack shot with a BB gun and a 22.

Patsy was preceded in death by Bobby, her husband of 62 years, her parents, and her three older sisters. She is survived by her three sons, Bobby Jr. (Carol), Brian (Delores), and John (Susan), and her daughter Lisa Jameson, who along with her son, Brady, and daughter, Zoey, and her husband Wiley, graciously and lovingly cared for her in their home over the last years of her life.

In addition, Patsy leaves behind twelve grandchildren: Randi (Jeremy) Burnett, Tyrel (Mariel) Kelland, Chase (Brittany) Jameson, Chad (Nora) Jameson, Brady Jameson, Zoey Jameson, Jacqueline (Charles) Williams, Elizabeth Smith, Branden (Mary) Smith, Brianna Smith, Miriam Garcia, and Julian Smith. She also leaves behind thirteen great-grandchildren, eight sisters and one brother, including Billie Garcia of Yuma, Arizona, Kim Rinehart of Wellton, and Mary Browning of Headland, Alabama, as well as sister-in-law Lena Comer and brother-in-law, Tony Syck, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the nurses, especially Mariah Finfrock, of Compassus Hospice of Yuma for their compassionate care and support during Mom’s last days. We would also like to thank Beau, Maddie, and especially Laiken Jameson for all the joy and laughter they brought to their Great-Grandmother’s life during the last two years.