Patricia Ann (Donahoe) Richards, went to be with the Lord on her heavenly birthday, January 10, 2018 at Regency Hospital in Springdale. She was born January 10, 1940 at Buffalo Creek near Jamestown, Kansas in Cloud County to Charles Donahoe, Sr. and Esther Thyfault Donahoe.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Esther and Charles Donahoe, Sr. and a brother, Charles Donahoe, Jr.
She was born and raised Catholic. Patricia married Ronald “Dusty” Richards on June 5, 1961 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Fayetteville, AR. She lived in Springdale, AR in the Sonora Community. Patricia graduated high school in Huntsville, AR and graduated from nursing school at St. Edwards in Ft. Smith, AR in 1960. Her first job was working for Dr. Sisco in Springdale. She worked at Springdale Memorial Hospital for a few years, then worked at WRMC, retiring in 1994. After retiring, she traveled with Dusty.
Patricia is survived by her loving husband, Dusty Richards to whom she was married for 56 years; two daughters, Anna Barnes and husband, Bryan of Siloam Springs and Rhonda Albrecht and husband, Wolfgang of Fayetteville; two brothers, Dennis Donahoe of Hindsville, AR and Michael Donahoe and wife, Joyce of Lincoln, AR; two sisters, Karen Beebe of Lincoln, AR and Rita Walker and husband, John Clarke of Berryville, VA; grandchildren, Jessica Smith and husband, Derek, Montana Barnes and wife, Ashley, Courtney (Albrecht) Watson and husband, Shane and Erich Albrecht; great-grandchildren, Trypp and Mya Stephenson, Cayden and Wyatt Barnes, Cheyenne and Paisley (Sweetpea)Watson and Kalie and Kambry Smith; sister-in-law, Sandy Lundy and husband, Bob of Cannon Beach, OR; brother-in-law, James Richards of Rogers, AR; and many nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 2-4 P.M. Sunday, January 14, 2018 at Beard’s Chapel.
Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Monday, January 15, 2018 at Beard’s Chapel with Chaplain Charlie Brown officiating.
Interment will follow in Sonora Cemetery under the direction of Beard’s Chapel.
Donations may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation or the Women’s Shelter of Fayetteville, AR.
Lee & I are so very sorry. Praying for comfort for the entire family
My heart is heavy; my memories are bright! Prayers for peace and comfort for the family. Prayers for healing for Dusty.
I cannot ever remember, in the almost 30 years I’ve known Dusty and Pat, seeing Pat without a smile. God bless, Pat, and rest in peace.
It is with a heavy heart that I extend my condolences to Pat’s family. She was a wonderful woman and will be dearly missed by me and her Western Writers of America family. Prayers for her family during this difficult and sad time.
My Love and Prayers are with you. Grandma Peggy
Dusty I am so sorry for your loss of Pat. The Lord will guide you through the grief and the recovery time, He knows your hurt and pain.
Vernon Lewis OAEC BOARD MEMBER FROM VVEC.
I am so very sorry to hear about Mrs. Pat. I remember her a a gracious and thoughtful lady who was a pleasure to be around. She and Dusty were 2 of the first people I met when I began “Queening” and then came to the U if A. I remember them being involved in helping with the Springdale rodeo, playdays, jackpots, FFA activities, and many other community events. She will be missed by all those whose lives she touched.
Dusty and family, we are so sorry for your loss. She was a very sweet lady. You are in our thoughts and prayers through out this trying time. Our love to you. Larry and Gayle Hicks
What a great couple, Dusty and Pat . I met them at writers’conferences and they became like family. Folks told Pat and I we looked alike. So we called each other, Sis. I looked forward to seeing them at Eureka Springs at OCW each fall.
Prayers for Dusty and Pat’s family. I’ll miss you, Sis.
Pat and her sweetness will be missed here. Memories are so precious and the memory of her will remain as a person that was always friendy and smiling. Our prayers and condolences are with the family.
My thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time. Pat was a special lady and I had the honor of having her as a nurse. She always had a smile on her face and would give me a hug no matter where we were. She will dearly missed.
Prayers for Dusty
My heart goes out to your entire family in this time of grief.
PAT was a very dear friend of my we grew up together on the Bohannan Mt.played together when we were young she was a great person
Memories of traveling and being around this wonderful angel will always be a treasure in my life! I always felt being in her presence was a true pleasure. May GODs grace always give you comfort and peace in your lives!
I’ve known Pat and Dusty since I was a kid in Winslow. Later, I worked with her at WRMC and she showed me to be a caring and compassionate RN . I pray that God grants their daughters and family peace and wraps his loving arms around them.
To the Richards family. We are so sorry for you loss. Pat and Dusty are such great people. We have always held them them in the highest regards.
Tim and Melissa Thompson
So sorry for hear of the passing of Pat, who I knew through my relationship with Dusty as a writer and member of various writing organizations. I’m sorry that I’ll have to miss her funeral as I’m in southwest Florida for the winter. My prayers are for her and her family. God bless Pat and may her soul rest in peace!
Prayers for family . Robert and I pray for Dusty recovery and family during days ahead.
Our hearts are saddened for the family members. Such a loss of a lovely person–sweet as can be. Prayers are flying your way. Also prayers that Dusty fully recovers.
We are sorry for your loss … I (Neal) have many fond memories of Pat at all the junior rodeo events and how supportive she was of every one.
To The Family: Please accept my sincere condolences for your loss. May you find a measure of comfort knowing that very soon God promises to end suffering and also “death will be no more”. (Revelation 21:3,4) http://www.jw.org
I loved Pat. She had such a caring heart. i have many good memories of trips when my husband worked at OECC. Pat and I ran around together and I enjoyed her company. She took me under her wing and I’ll never forget her kindness. We so sorry for your loss. May God comfort you during this sad time.
It is with a heavy heart that I extend my condolences to Pat & Dusty’s family. Prayers for her family during this time of sorrow. Rita, I’m so sorry. I always asked her about you when I ran into them. The last time I saw them at a Class Reunion I purchased one of Dusty latest books.
Pat was one lovely lady, always there for Dusty and one of the sweetest people I ever met. She always wore a smile and had a kind word to share. Our thoughts and prayers are with family and friends.
Pat was a sweet and gracious lady and will be missed. She always gave the most of herself, for her family, and for friends,and in everything she did. She was an intelligent and kind lady who deeply cared and loved those around her and showed it with her multiple acts of kindness throughout her life. She was a loving wife, mom, sister,and grandmother!!! God’s Peace at this sad time for the family with her loss.
Sending prayers during this difficult time for your family. Pat will be missed.
Prayers for the family at this difficult time. Pat will be missed.