Patsy Jean "Pat" (Davis) Dillard

Visitation for Patsy Jean “Pat” (Davis) Dillard, 97, of Lufkin will be held Wednesday, February 26, 2025 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Carpenter’s Way Church. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Mark Wilke officiating. Graveside services will be held Friday, February 28, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. in Capital Parks Cemetery in Pflugerville, Texas.

Pat Dillard was born October 14, 1927, in Austin, Texas to Oakley and Nollie Davis and passed away February 23, 2025 in Lufkin, Texas at Pinecrest Retirement Community where she had joyfully lived for almost 19 years and made many good friends.

Pat graduated from Austin High School at 16 years of age. She enrolled in the University of Texas where she happened to meet a handsome young man, Earl Dillard, from the south Texas town of Dilley. He had just returned from the Philippines serving in the Army Air Corps in WWII. They dated for three years. In the summer of 1949, they both graduated from UT, Pat with a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, and Earl as a certified architect. Five days later they married.

As she taught pre-school for 35 years, she frequently had student teachers from UT assigned to her classroom. Pat loved teaching young children and was highly respected as an educator, winning the Sallie Beth Moore award for excellence in pre-school teaching. She taught at Tarrytown United Methodist Church for three years before completing her career at Good Shephard Episcopal Church in Austin. Pat also worked part-time at a travel agency which allowed her to take Earl to Hawaii, Alaska and Canada on vacations. After moving to Lufkin, Pat continued to nurture young children as reading volunteer in  the Keen/Rolf Multi-age class at Dunbar Primary School.  Every Tuesday/Thursday for seven years, Pat encouraged young readers by reading one-on-one with them.

Pat and Earl moved to Pinecrest Retirement Community in 2006, shortly before Earl passed away. Some of Pat’s happiest moments spent at Pinecrest were playing the piano, not only for chapel but also for healthcare and memory care. Pat enjoyed greeting everyone with a smile and she often stated that she just wanted to be an encourager to someone every day. For over 18 years she said, “I am exactly where I am supposed to be at this time in my life.”

Pat was preceded in death by her husband Earl Dillard; parents, Oakley and Nollie Davis of Austin; brother and sister-in-law, Wilton and Eddye Davis of Dallas, and sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Joe Miles of Austin.

Pat is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Diana and Larry Holland of Garland, Jean Ann and Walter Keen of Lufkin; son and daughter-in-law, Randall and Christy Dillard of Pflugerville; grandchildren, Stephen Holland of Sachse, Michael and Crystal Holland of Garland, David Holland of Wylie, Kylee and Olen Nau of Spring, Karyn and Bill McKinley of Kingwood, Brandon and Marsha Dillard of Dripping Springs, and Brent and Lindsey Dillard of Austin; great-grandchildren, Jori Holland and Jadon Holland of Garland, Kadon Taylor and Tera Holland of Garland, Daisy, Rhett and Violet Nau of Spring.

Special thanks to Pinecrest Retirement Community for providing a wonderful place for Mother to continue to grow and thrive later in life. Not only did she develop new friendships, but staff became close as a second family enabling her to live life to the fullest.

Memorial contributions may be made to Carpenter’s Way Church, 400 N. John Redditt Drive, Lufkin, Texas 75904 or PineCrest Retirement Community, 1302 Tom Temple Drive, Lufkin, Texas 75904.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.