Patricia Nell Smith Irby, 87, passed from this life on Friday, December 22, 2023.
She was born July 9, 1936 in Clarks, LA to the union of her parents, Robert A. “Bob” Smith and Harriette Thelma Rogers.
Pat later moved to Kelly, LA. Growing up here, she would watch the convoys of Army vehicles going back and forth from Monroe to Alexandria. While living here, she attended Kelly School and graduated as Valedictorian in 1954. After graduation from Kelly, she enrolled at LA Tech in September of 1955 and graduated from LA Tech in 1958 with bachelor’s degrees in business and English, and with a teacher’s certificate. With her business degree, she started work for an oil company, in Shreveport, LA. She later moved closer to home, to Monroe and went to work for a law firm. She started her teaching career in Caldwell Parish (Columbia), then as a business teacher at LaSalle High School. She then moved to Minden (where she met her husband, Benton L. Irby Sr.) as a business teacher at Minden High, then back to LaSalle as a full-time business teacher.
Pat Irby was the epitome of a school teacher; poised, disciplined, but cordial, thinking that every student was there to learn a skill that would benefit them their entire life. Many did, going on to become doctors, lawyers, town officials, representatives and community leaders. Teachers of this type will truly be missed. After teaching twenty-three years, she retired and became a homebody. She loved reading, playing the piano and teaching Sunday School. Sometimes, even going bird hunting, camping and fishing with her husband and son. However, she would rather have been at home with a good book and music!
Services were held at 2 p.m., Friday, December 29, 2023, at Riser Funeral Home, Olla, LA.
Interment followed in the Old Bethel Cemetery.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Benton L. Irby Jr.; two half-brothers; and a half sister.
Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Benton L. Irby Sr.
Pallbearers were Bull Barnhill, Randy McCarty, Travis Maxwell, Andrew Strong and Bro. Joe Lowe.
Honorary pallbearers were George Humphries, Jeffrey Johnson, Anders Thompson and Dan Brockner.
