Patricia Ann Watters

A Life of Quiet Strength, Fierce Love, and Steady Grace

Pat Watters was born on June 24, 1944, in Victoria, Texas, the first child of Leonard and Lucille Jay. She spent her early years exploring Texas with her parents and younger sister, Linda, taking road trips and visiting the beach. The family later moved to Gurdon, Arkansas, where her brother Donnie was born, and eventually settled in Taylor, Arkansas, where Pat went to high school.

Pat was a great student and was even nominated for a scholarship after high school. But it was given to a boy instead, under the belief she would just get married and drop out. He dropped out after one semester. Pat didn’t. She went on to graduate from Arkansas Tech with a degree in art education. During college, she discovered a love of hiking and spelunking in the nearby caves and hills, always eager to explore something new.

She met her future husband, Randall, at a dance in Spring Hill, Louisiana, while she was in college. His best friend, Charles, ended up dating Pat’s sister, Linda, so the four of them spent time together that night — the start of two love stories that would last a lifetime.

Randall had joined the Army and was stationed in Alaska, far from home. He and Pat kept in touch through frequent letters, building a deep connection despite the distance. They married during her junior year at Arkansas Tech, and after she graduated, Pat moved to Alaska to be with him. A year later, they returned to the South and made their home in Bossier City, Louisiana.

There, Pat began teaching at Booker T. Washington High School, a historically Black high school in Shreveport, and was one of the first white teachers on staff. She was dedicated to fostering an inclusive educational environment and had creative ways to solve difficult problems, like discreetly moving girls who wore skirts too short to the front of the class to keep them from being a distraction.

When her first child, Steve, was diagnosed with autism, some told her it was because she hadn’t shown him enough affection — a common and harmful myth at the time. She never believed that for a second. Pat saw Steve’s worth clearly and knew he deserved better. When the school system proposed placing him in a generic special education room with no individual instruction, she stood her ground. She took her concerns to the school board — and eventually the state — pushing for programs that would truly serve autistic children. Her persistence helped bring about the first autism-specific programs in the parish, a change that began with her love for Steve. While others may have been involved, Pat was vocal, persistent, and unafraid to raise a fuss when it mattered most.

Later, when her son Kevin was young, the school proposed a split-level program that would separate students based on performance, placing some in a lower track where they wouldn’t be allowed to earn higher than a B, no matter how well they did. Pat saw it for what it was: unfair and discouraging. Along with other parents, she spoke up firmly and persistently. Kevin later graduated from LSU with honors and attended Harvard Law School, proving once again that Pat’s instincts were right.

Jessica, Pat’s youngest, brought her own light into the family. When she faced early challenges with speech, some doubted what she’d be able to do — but Pat never did. With endless patience and fierce love, Pat worked with her every day, helping her find her voice. And once Jessica found it, she used it with strength, joy, and confidence — just like her mom.

After five years at Booker T. Washington, Pat left her teaching position to care for Steve but later returned as a teacher’s aide at Meadowview Elementary in programs for children with special needs. She used to say, “You get older, but in your head, you always feel the same age.” That perspective — honest and lighthearted — stayed with her, even as her health declined.

Later in life, she and Randall joined Simple Church and became very involved until her health no longer allowed her to attend or volunteer. There, they served as greeters, handing out programs and warm smiles to everyone who walked in. Her faith was central to who she was. She believed deeply in Jesus and prayed diligently for her family.

Pat enjoyed reading more than cooking, but she still made breakfast and dinner nearly every day for her family. And on the days that called for it, she wasn’t above a last-minute trip to McDonald’s.

Known throughout the community as warm-hearted and kind, “Miss Pat” was always happy to lend a hand and welcomed everyone into her home. Her children knew she loved them because she said it so often, and she made sure they knew how proud she was of them. Her love, faith, and kindness live on in everyone who had the joy of knowing her.

She is survived by her husband, Randall Watters; her children, Steve Watters, Kevin Watters and his wife, Dr. Mary Katherine Watters, and Jessica Watters; her grandchildren, Ben Watters, Will Watters, and Kate Watters; her sister, Linda Matlock, and her husband, Charles Matlock; and her brother, Donnie Jay, and his wife, Pam Jay. She is also survived by a dear family friend and neighbor, Nancy Burks, whose kindness and support meant so much over the years. She is remembered with love by extended family and many dear friends.

Pat was a woman of quiet strength and deep conviction — someone who loved fiercely, believed firmly, and showed up every day for the people she cared about. She wasn’t flashy or looking for recognition, but she made a lasting impact in her home, her classroom, and her community. She believed in fairness and didn’t let outdated systems or small thinking stand in the way of what was right. Her warmth and wit made people feel welcome, and even when life was hard, she kept showing up with breakfast, a smile, or a voice that wouldn’t be quiet when something needed to change. She often said, “That's the thing about life — it keeps going, and you've got to just keep going.”

That’s the kind of legacy that stays with you, and she left it everywhere she went.

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