Patricia Lynn (Van Dyke) Monfore
Published 5:00 am Thursday, December 21, 2023
Patricia Lynn (Van Dyke) Monfore, 75, of Russellville, Ark., passed away on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, at Legacy Heights in Russellville. She was born on Nov. 18, 1948, in Lake Charles, La., to Arthur Bennett Van Dyke Jr. and Emily Louise (Brannen) Van Dyke. On July 7, 1969, she married her beloved husband, David Monfore, in Lake Charles, La. They adopted one son, Keelan Beridon Monfore, who preceded her in death in 2011.
Lynn graduated from Lake Charles High School (1966) and McNeese State University (BA 1981) and embarked on a life filled with love, learning, and Christian service. Lynn was a highly respected teacher who taught and ministered to children in various capacities for over 35 years. Her experience included teaching, home schooling, and tutoring of elementary and high school students, teaching literacy and GED to adults, teaching creative writing to senior adults, teaching Christian subjects, and ministering to children. Lynn’s literacy teaching and tutoring even included inmates in both a city jail and a state penitentiary. She received a Special Recognition of Outstanding Achievement for her contributions from the governor of Louisiana in 1992. She also taught the weekly chapel service at a Christian Daycare for three years and filled in as interim director for one semester. She was a committed Christian who also taught Good News Clubs and 5 Day Clubs teaching and reaching children for Christ.
Lynn’s creativity extended beyond the classroom, as she found joy in writing poetry and short stories, reading, painting, sculpting, and needlepoint. She and David enjoyed traveling and camping throughout the United States and Canada.
Lynn’s memory will forever be cherished by those who had the privilege of knowing her, and her legacy of selfless service will continue to inspire us all. Lynn is survived by her loving husband, David Monfore of Russellville; daughter-in-law, Jessica Fisher and husband, Sean of Ragley, La.; two grandchildren, Grace Monfore and Marshall Monfore; two sisters-in-law, Diane Phillips and husband, Dennis of Bentonville, and Janet Fryar and husband, Roger of Russellville; along with several extended family members.
A Funeral Service to celebrate Lynn’s life will be held at 12 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, at Humphrey Chapel in Russellville, Ark. Reverend Mike Norberg will officiate, and burial will follow at Pisgah Cemetery in Pottsville, Ark., under the care of Humphrey Funeral Service. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service, starting at 11 a.m. in the chapel.
In lieu of funeral flowers, the family kindly requests that you consider ordering a floral arrangement and delivering it to a nursing home of your choosing to brighten a resident’s day. Internet obituary and an online guest book are available at www.humphreyfuneral.com.
