Patty Sue Hensley Fite

Patty Sue Hensley Fite, age 91, of Athens, Georgia passed away Friday, December 17, 2021.  She was born in Eagleton, Arkansas on July 24, 1930 to the late William Ambrose Hensley Sr. and the late Lotus Nettie Henderson Hensley.  She married Mark Everett Fite on Christmas Day, 1948 as this was the only day that each had off from work.  As a Navy wife and mother, she spent the next 28 years travelling with her husband and three children to duty stations in Southeast Asia, Hawaii, and both coasts of the United States.

In 1969, Patty and her family settled in Athens, Georgia where she obtained her Emergency Medical Technician license in 1974, a real estate license in 1977, and her Licensed Practical Nurse license in 1979.  With her youngest child still at home, she decided to work as a nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital for the next 30 years, along with her husband who was both the Employee Chaplain and Hospice Chaplain.

After all three children were out on their own, Pat and Mark made time to travel to visit them wherever they were stationed, and to tour the areas where the Air Force had taken them.  Patty taught her children to always learn about other cultures and histories, and her children carried this philosophy into their adult lives.  Pat and Mark had a special place to travel to in the North Georgia mountains, and it became a spiritual retreat for them.  Pat was active in many ministerial areas, serving with Mark in Clarke and other North Georgia counties.  She was also known for enjoying good jokes and pranks!

Patty is preceded in death by her husband Mark, her first grandson John Mark Fite Jr., five of her six brothers, and her one sister.  She is survived by John Mark Fite Sr. and his wife Kim, Beth Fite Tritschler and her husband Phil, and Nathan Alan Fite and his wife Dana, her beloved grandsons Lee Fleming Fite and his wife Chasiti, grandsons Adam Matthew Tritschler, Jack Everett Fite, and Henry Alan Fite, and her first great grandchild Justice Cruse Fite.

The funeral will be held at Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, West on Tuesday, December 21st.  Visitation will be at 4:00 in the afternoon, followed by the service at 5:00.  Interment will be at the Georgia National Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Mary’s Hospice, PO Box 6588, Athens, GA 30604.

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, WEST, Watkinsville, is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com