Patsy Fisher

Services for Patsy Arleen Fisher, 64, of Bullard will be held on Wednesday, June 8th at 1:00 pm at the West Erwin Church of Christ, where Patsy was a member. Jay Lockhart will officiate with Jim Heath assisting. Burial will be at the Pine Crest Cemetery in Troup under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler. The family will receive visitors on Tuesday, June 7th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Hwy, Tyler, 75703. Patsy went home to be with her Lord on Sunday, June 5th, after a fourteen month battle with cancer. Patsy was an educator and counselor in East Texas schools for 44 years, starting her career at Elkhart and Westwood ISD’s. She then began a 20 year stint with Tyler ISD, teaching Honors English at John Tyler High School, serving as school counselor at Hogg Middle School, and returning to John Tyler as a counselor. Her years of service in Tyler were followed by a move to Lindale ISD where she spent the next 21 years. While at Lindale, Patsy served as High School Counselor, Lead Counselor, grant writer, and District Director of Counseling. Having worked under four principals, she was described by Assistant Superintendent Jamie Holder as the rock that held Lindale H.S. together during those transitions. “Patsy truly had a servant’s heart and her impact on the students of the Lindale community will be greatly missed. She was truly a hero in public education.” Patsy was also well known throughout the East Texas community of counselors, serving as President of the Piney Woods Counselors’ Association in 1999 – 2000. She was selected as Piney Woods’ Counselor of the Year for the 1995 – 1996 school year. Patsy graduated from Troup High School in 1965. She received both her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University and later earned her LPC license in order to counsel in the private sector. Patsy was born in Jacksonville on March 3, 1947, to R.J. and Navoleine Roddy. She was preceded in death by her father. On June 1, 1968, she married Alan Woods Fisher. She is survived by her husband of 43 years; her daughter, Amy Buwalda and grandchildren, Brett and Tanner Buwalda of Allen; her mother, Navoleine Roddy of Troup; two sisters and their husbands, Rita Jo and Dwade Reinsch of Mesquite and Becky and Dennis Mays of Selma, NC; as well as a brother-in-law Wayne Fisher of Tyler; two sisters-in-law and their husbands, Audrey and Don Robinson of Chandler, Arizona and Sharon and Bob Slayden of Flint; five nieces and nephews, and a host of extended family and friends. Pallbearers will be Keith Bailey, Alan Barnes, Marshall Burkett, Jamie Holder, Charles Parmley and Dwade Reinsch. Memorials may be made in her memory to Hospice of East Texas or the West Erwin Church of Christ Benevolence Center. The family would like to thank the many people who supported Patsy and Alan throughout her illness. They are especially grateful to Alice Hudson, her in-home health care provider, and the nurses and staff at Hospice of East Texas for the compassionate care they provided her.

Patsy Fisher

March 3, 1947 - June 5, 2011