The Funeral Service for Patricia ‘Pat’ Murray Preis will be held on January 4, 2023, at Newellton Union Church at 2:00p.m. with Rev. Johnny Wilkins and Rev. Chris Andrews presiding. Burial will be held immediately following at the Legion Memorial Cemetery, under the direction of Young's Funeral Home. After living, in her words, “a wonderful life,” Pat passed away on January 1, 2023, at 7:19 a.m. after a brief illness.
Pat was born on March 25, 1926, in Heavenor, Oklahoma and grew up in DeQuincy, Louisiana before attending LSU and became a member of Tri-Delta Sorority. During a dance at Fort Polk, she met Edwin, the love of her life. Edwin and Pat were married for 67 years and lived in Newellton, Louisiana for most of their lives.
Pat was an avid reader and passionate volunteer for the Tensas Parish Library, and she passed her love of books on as a legacy to family. Governor Buddy Roemer appointed Pat to the Louisiana State Library Board of Commissioners in 1988, and she actively served on the Board for 30 years. Pat was extensively involved with Newellton High School, Lake Bruin Country Club, and she loved everyone she met all over the state in her activities with the Louisiana Municipal Association. Pat’s passions also included playing bridge with her beloved friends in Tensas Parish and Pat was honored to join the daughters of the American Revolution.
Pat is predeceased by her husband, Edwin, her mother, Addie Murray, and grandfather, Daniel Webster Fender, her Aunt Fae, and Uncle Malcom Cronland.
She is survived by her two sons, Edwin G. Preis, Jr. of Lafayette and his wife Christine and Phillip W. Preis of Baton Rouge and his wife Terry; her daughter, Patricia Preis Thompson of Nacogdoches, Texas and her husband, Dr. Charles A. Thompson; 10 grandchildren, Claire Elise Preis Colomb and her husband, Brian, Meredith Preis Lalonde and her husband, Jonah, Meghan Elizabeth Thibodeaux and her husband, Garett, all of Lafayette; Phillip Preis, Jr. of Bronxville, New York, and his wife, Emelie, Caroline Preis Graham of Baton Rouge and her husband, Eric, Michael Preis of Austin, Texas and fiancé, Taylor Swiedom, Jennifer Preis Pou of Shreveport, and husband, Gray; Matt Thompson of Houston, Texas and his wife, Hallie, Graham Thompson of Shreveport and his wife, Carolyn, and Dr. Ben Thompson of Nacogdoches, Texas, and his wife, Kathleen ‘Kat.’ Pat is also celebrated by 18 loving great-grandchildren.
Pat engaged and laughed with her family regularly and loved hearing the stories of their lives and frequently dispensed ‘Memaw-isms’ from her catalogue of witty advice and life lessons.
The pallbearers will be her grandsons and husbands of her granddaughters. Honorary pallbearers will be Frank Burnside, Jr., Sonny Kifer, Billie Guthrie, Richard A. DeWitt, Jr., Hayes Thomas Colomb, John-Kullman Preis Lalonde, Griffin Paul Thibodeaux, and Connor Ford Graham.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Newellton Union Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 265, Newellton, Louisiana 71357.
To leave an online condolence for the family please visit www.youngsfh.com.