Pat Buercklin

Lera Patricia Buercklin, 89, of Jonesboro, passed away on Friday, February 7, 2020, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro.

Born in Winthrop, Arkansas, Pat graduated high school in 1949 and attended Arkansas College in Batesville, AR. Upon graduation, she attended Presbyterian Assembly Training School in Richmond, VA where she studied to be a Christian Educator. She then moved to Barium Springs, North Carolina, where she worked 11 years in the Presbyterian Children’s Home. In the early 1960s Pat returned to Arkansas and started a long career with the Arkansas Department of Human Services assigned to Bradley County in Warren. Through job promotions Pat transferred to the Little Rock office as a Staff Development Trainer. She then worked in Independence County in Batesville before returning to the state headquarters in Little Rock. Following retirement Pat returned to Warren to care for her mother before moving with her mother to Jonesboro.

Pat was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Jonesboro where she was active with the Presbyterian Women Circles and other church activities. She was a member of the Arkansas Retired State Employees Association and enjoyed crocheting, oil painting, cooking shows and traveling shows. Pat was a voracious reader and loved cats. She also enjoyed collecting snowmen and frogs. She willingly gave of her time, talents, and resources to help others. She will be lovingly missed by family and friends.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents: Marion Alferd Buercklin, Sr. and Velma Tate Buercklin; a younger brother, Donald Wayne Buercklin, who died at the age of 2; an older brother, Marion Alferd Buercklin, Jr. and his wife, Patricia "Honey Pat" Buercklin; and a nephew, Kenny Bost.

Survivors include 1 sister, Sylvia Bost Tate of Jonesboro; 2 nieces: Cynthia Ann Bost of Senatobia, Mississippi, and Bett Elaine Burns (George) of Somerville, Tennessee; 1 step nephew; 1 step niece; 1 niece-in-law; 5 great-nephews; 6 great-nieces; and 1 great-great-niece.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday in First Presbyterian Church, 710 Southwest Dr. Jonesboro, with Rev. Matt Bussell officiating. Burial in Jonesboro Memorial Park will be private. There will be no visitation.

For lasting memorials, the family asks that consideration be given to Northeast Arkansas Food Bank, 3414 One Pl, Jonesboro, AR 72404, or City Youth Ministries, 118 Burke Ave., Jonesboro, AR 72401.