Patricia Anne Proctor gave up her courageous 20+ year fight with breast cancer on February 11, 2026. She was born April 17,1955, in Jonesboro, Arkansas. She attended Jonesboro High School & graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.
She worked for Sears back in the 80s, then the City of Little Rock in building permits. She was a census enumerator for the 2000 Federal Census. Pat later retired from her true love, Historic Arkansas Museum.
She was a lifelong student of history- all kinds. Pat loved history road trips, historic cemeteries, historic preservation sites, the antebellum plantations in Louisiana, museums-all kinds, Pea Ridge, Arkansas Post, historic Fort Smith, women’s history, original log houses, historic research, programs at the museum, road trips to the beach & old movies. A separate road trip took her to Vicksburg & Natchez for 4th of July fireworks & plantation tours.
She was very involved with the blacksmiths at the museum & putting on the Arkansas Knifemakers Association. She also served on the board of the Arkansas Trail of Tears Association. Pat adored the living history events at the museum & always insisted on everything being historically (perfect) accurate- even in play time tea parties. Nothing was more important to her than her son Geoff.
Pat was an amazing artist. She was all-consumed by every kind of art. She loved art museums, art shows, art festivals and other artists. She remembered a favorite museum association meeting at The Dixon & The Metal Museum in Memphis. She was a painter herself & loved making pottery. A treat was receiving fresh clay delivered from Marshall Pottery in Marshall, Texas. Pat would grab onto any excuse to do crafting- especially with children at the museum. She was the paper snowflake queen. She could build or make anything- out of anything- never running out of ideas.
Pat was predeceased by her father: J. L. Proctor & ex-husband Barry Elrod. She is survived by her mother Betty Proctor of Jonesboro; son, Geoff Elrod of Little Rock; Sister, Donna Glover & nephew Tray (Shelbie) Glover, both of Tyler, Texas; and lifelong friend Sammye Lou Byrd.
A celebration of life will be held at Historic Arkansas Museum on March 5 in the HAM café from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Bring a story.
Arrangements by A Natural State Funeral Service 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas 72076. 501-982-3400. Online guestbook available at www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com
4 Comments
I worked with Pat at Little Rock in the early 90s. She was cool, funny and a good person. My sympathy to her family for their loss.
Pat was a good friend & neighbor for about 35 years. She was always ready to “jump in her shoes” & go on a moment’s notice. She’d say, “Where are we going?” She was a great partner in crime in both mischief & in policing the neighborhood. We were known to just take off on pow wows, historical road trips, Sam’s Club runs, museum adventures, didn’t matter. Lots of dancing at HAM. My girls adored crafting with her at HAM & the “perfect” tea parties we had at my house. My house is full of Pat’s artworks- treasures. She made a great gatekeeper at my garden tours or working at the knife show downtown. No one got past Pat. I sure missed her when she no longer felt like “jumping in her shoes.” We’d just sit & hang out- talk about the neighbors. With Pat’s passing, she made me the reigning “Old lady” in the neighborhood. Thanks Pat!
Mary she spoke to me about you often and I worked with her for 6 years but we kept in touch once I moved to different States and I will miss our conversations. She never wavered on speaking her mind and I loved that about her.
I worked with, Ms. Pat, as I called her for 10+years. She did love, love History and I enjoyed working with her so much! So sorry to hear this news, so late, and just saw I missed her celebration of life. My thoughts and prayers are with her family just know she will be greatly missed.
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