Patricia Brown Crowe

It was confidence in the holy spirit that fostered a healthy self-esteem and make-it-happen attitude. She was confident in her unfailing faith and knew that doing right was the only doing possible. Patricia painted life by the numbers. Changed lives by the numbers. Numbers were a path to a better life. Not a better life for her, but for the thousands of people she directly and indirectly helped. Her life joy was in adding to the joy of other lives – especially for lives in which joy might be a rarity. Joy and smiles and hugs and big hearts and big adventures and bigger stories. Those are the things Patricia loved. Her biggest accomplishment, however, and without question, was as a single parent raising her daughter Amanda.

Patricia was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She lived in Memphis for 24 of her adult years where she developed a stellar career in the non-profit arena. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith.

Patricia is survived by her husband, Michael; her parents, George and Joyce Redden; one married daughter, Amanda and son-in-law, Scott Whittenberg; her brother, Jeff, his wife Karen, son Jacob and daughter Lindsay; and her sister' Jonna Gonzalez, her husband Mauricio and their son Austin; and her step-sister, Valena Magill.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Jason Wayne Redden; her mother, Mary Nell Bowman; and her step-father, Jon Bowman.

Patricia returned to Fort Smith in September 2007 after battling breast cancer first diagnosed in May 2005. From 2007 to 2010, she served as executive director of the Fort Smith Classic a Nationwide Tour pro golf event. Patricia joined The City Wire (now Talk Business & Politics as of October 2015) in 2010 as an account executive but quickly became the chief operating officer. When she wasn't fighting for community causes, she was, far too often, fighting her own battle with breast cancer. Patricia frequently attended and spoke at cancer events large and small. She addressed large groups and individuals about her cancer battle, giving hope and humor to others.

Visitation will be Sunday afternoon from 2:00 PM-4:00 PM at Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith, AR with a service celebrating her life Monday from 1:00 PM-2:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith, AR. Private family burial will be at Hickory Ridge Cemetery in Charleston, AR.

Honorary pallbearers will be John Daly, Mike Simpson, Paul Spear and Michael Tilley.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the First Presbyterian Church, 122 North 12th Street Fort Smith, AR 72901 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or by visiting stjudetributes.org.

To place online tributes visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com