Mrs. Patricia Park Laney

Patricia Ann Park Laney, daughter of the late Marcus and Doris Park, passed away peacefully of natural causes on December 20, 2023. She was born on May 13, 1940, and was a lifelong Presbyterian. She is survived by her husband, Thomas (Tom) Laney of McKinney; a brother, William R. (Bill) Park and Donna of Longview; son Mark Thomas Laney and Lee Ann of Amarillo; daughter Lynne Laney Rever and William Harry Rever III of Plano. Blessed by five grandchildren, they are Captain Benjamin T. (Ben) Laney, U.S. Army JAG Korea; Ensign Samuel T. (Sam) Laney, U.S. Navy, MIT, Cambridge, MA; William H. (Will) Rever IV of Hurst; Dr. Robert T. (Rob) Rever, DPT and Anna of Addison, and Rachel Rever, Texas Tech University. Patricia Park grew up in Henderson where she completed all twelve years of public school, graduating with the Class of 1958 and earning the status of salutatorian and an academic scholarship to Texas Christian University; she transferred to Texas Tech University after one semester. She met her future husband in her first semester at Tech. Graduating with degrees in math and English, she taught in Lubbock. They were married in the First Presbyterian Church of Henderson. After Tom's training in the U.S.A.F., they were assigned to an air base in western Oklahoma where Patricia taught math in the local high school and was later the librarian. Mark and Lynne were born in air base hospitals. Los Angeles was home for one year as they prepared for a career with Continental Airlines and awaiting a transfer to Texas. They reared their children in Duncanville where Patricia was the primary parent, a substitute teacher, and a private tutor. She was a leader in the Presbyterian Church and was ordained an elder. As a result of her own experience with cancer, she became a group leader for those dealing with this ailment in a program of the chaplain's office at Baylor Hospital Dallas. She excelled in this bittersweet labor of love and compassion. A move to Houston ended her beloved mission at Baylor. Her leadership skills were noticed at the church they joined, and she was called to a leadership role in a large congregation. She made wonderful, lasting friends wherever she lived. With retirement impending, they moved to Henderson. Here they remained 23 years. In this time, Patricia again served in church leadership. She also volunteered in several organizations: Texas Historical Commission of Rusk County, Rusk County Heritage Association (Howard-Dickenson House), Rusk County Museum Print Shop, Meals on Wheels, Master Gardeners and Rusk County Extension Office programs in nutrition and exercise. McKinney was the next move to be close to their children, grandchildren, as well as other members of the Park family. She was also eager to be part of another Presbyterian Church family. Sadly, her health began to fail because of earlier surgeries; overlapping ailments continued to sap her strength. Wonderful doctors and nurses, hospitalizations, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and bed rest were not enough to stop her decline. The physical body died at Faith Presbyterian Hospice Dallas. A celebration of the life Mrs. Laney will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, January 5, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church in Henderson with Rev. Michele Goff and Rev. Candice Klein officiating, under the direction of Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home. The family will receive friends following the service at the church. Pallbearers will be John Tieken, Dr. John Hillin, Chris Cross, Weldon Gray, Jimy Chapman and Adan Ovalle. If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Presbyterian Children’s Home and Services at P.O. Box 140888, Austin, TX 78714-9981. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.crawfordacrim.com

Mrs. Patricia Park Laney

May 13, 1940 - December 20, 2023