Obits: The Natchitoches Times Obits, December 1999 Submitted by: Suzanne Shomemaker Many thanks to The Natchitoches Times for allowing the LaGenWeb to archive the obits from the newspaper. ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ============================================================= December 3, 1999 issue CONNIE R. RACHAL Funeral arrangements are pending for Connie R. Rachal, 43, of Natchitoches under the direction of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. Rachal died Wednesday, December 1, 1999 at Schumpert Medical Center in Shreveport. The family requests in lieu of flowers memorial be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee, 38105, or to the charity of the donor's choice. ======================================================================= The Natchitoches Times obits. December 7, 1999 issue. S. B. "PAT" MINTURN S. B. "Pat" Minturn, 94, died Sunday, December 5, 1999. Funeral services will be held at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home Tuesday, December 12 at 1 p.m. Mr. Minturn was a native of Slidell. He was born March 25, 1905. He was a senior engineering student at Louisiana State University when he became a project engineer for the Louisiana State Department of Highways and for 20 years built roads and bridges throughout the state. In 1944, he was sent to Natchitoches where he completed his tenure before becoming co-founder and owner of K & M Construction Company. Mr. "Pat" was active in many civic affairs including Waterworks District #1 and the Port Commission. He served 20 years as commissioner of public utilities for the City of Natchitoches and was instrumental in the development of Sibley Lake. He was also a charter member of the Agitators Club. The City of Natchitoches and the Executive Department of the Parish of Natchitoches proclaimed March 25, 1996 at Pat Minturn Day. He was recognized in the proclamation "for years of service marked by exemplary dedication to the best interest of the community, working constantly for the betterment of its economic, cultural and refined development." He was commended for "saving the City of Natchitoches during the 1945 flood" and for devoting his time to Waterworks District #1 and the Natchitoches Port Commission. "His 22 years of service to the Port has proven to be of great reward to Natchitoches parish. What was once his dream is now reality-the Natchitoches Port." His family and friends will remember his love of cooking which he generously shared with all. Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Maree Majors Minturn; sons the Rev. Sterling Minturn of New York City, James Minturn and wife, Barbara, of Dallas; George Minturn of Natchitoches; one daughter, Maree Calcote and her husband, the Rev. A. Dean Calcote of Beaumont, Texas; grandchildren Alan Calcote, Sarah Calcote Sarahan and husband, Phil, Bryan Minturn and Megan Minturn. Pallbearers are James Minturn, George Minturn, Bryan Minturn, Alan Calcote, Paul Sarahan and Ken Guidry. Honorary pallbearers are Ray Scott, John Luster, Joe Pierson, Pat Todd and Steve McCain. Memorials may be made to Natchitoches Parish Hospital Foundation. LILLIAN MARIE ROBERTS Services for Lillian Marie Roberts, 79, of Provencal were held Tuesday, December 7 at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Provencal with the Rev. Kevin Taylor officiating. Burial was in Roberts Cemetery in Provencal. Mrs. Roberts died Friday, December 3, 1999 at Evangeline of Natchitoches. She was a native of Boise City, Okla. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church in Provencal where she was the church organist. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vay Roberts. Survivors include two daughters, Patricia Ann Blevins of Gloster and Linda Diane Bynog of Natchitoches; one brother, Bill Kirby of Clayton, N. M.; three grandchildren, Jennifer Williams of Neosho, Mo., Larry Blevins, Jr. of Gloster and Rebecca Marie Smith of Provencal; two great grandchildren, Dylan Cole Williams of Neosho, Mo. And Zachary Wayne Smith of Provencal. SHIRLEY LEMEE SPEIR COPELAND Funeral service for Mrs. Shirley Lemee Speir Copeland were held Monday, December 6 at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home with Mr. Wayne Johnson officiating. Burial followed in Strange Cemetery in Readhimer. Mrs. Copeland, 67, of Natchitoches died at the Christus Cabrini Medical Center in Alexandria Saturday, December 4, 1999. She was a native of Readhimer and was a retired security guard in Grandbury, Texas. She attended the Grand Ecore Baptist Church in Natchitoches. Survivors include one son, Wayne Johnson and wife, JoAnne, of Flower Mound, Texas; and one sister, Helen Couvillon of Natchitoches. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Copeland. Pallbearers were Don Pratt, Danny Butler, Bill Hatcher, Elmer O'Con, Eddie Pipiton, Gerald Stewart and Hilton Speir. ==================================================================== The Natchitoches Times obits December 14, 1999 issue. MANUEL ROQUE Services for Manuel Roque, 70, of Natchez will be held Wednesday, December 15 in St. Augustine Catholic Church at Isle Brevelle with Fr. Victor Vead officiating. Burial will follow in St. Augustine Cemetery with full military graveside rites by Sabine Chapter #21 DAV under the direction of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home of Natchitoches. Mr. Roque died Friday, December 10, 1999 at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Alexandria. He was a native of Cane River and a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church and the Holy Name Society. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict serving in the U. S. Army. He was a sergeant first class with the second infantry division. He received two purple hearts and the bronze star with V for valor. He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph K. Roque; his mother, Camelia Rachal Roque; and a brother, Joseph McCoy. Survivors include his wife, Eula Roque of Natchez; one daughter, Carolyn Jenkins of Los Angeles, Calif.; six sons, Joseph Roque of Homer, Bernard Roque of Chicago, Ill.; Darrell "Buster" Roque, Sr. of Cane River, Gerald Roque of Imperial Beach, Calif., Roy Roque, Sr. of Los Angeles, Calif. And Anthony Roque of Cane River; one sister, Nora Lee Llorens of Natchitoches; 19 grandchildren; and one great granddaughter. Pallbearers will be his six sons, Joseph Roque, Bernard Roque, Darrell Roque, Sr., Gerald Roque, Roy Roque, Sr. and Anthony Roque. Visitation will be Tuesday, December 14 from 5-9 p.m. and on Wednesday from 8-9 a.m. A Christian wake service will be held Tuesday, December 14 at 7 p.m. at the Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches. LESTER H. RACHAL Services for Lester H. Rachal, 84, of Flora were held Monday, December 13 at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Provencal with the Rev. Kevin Taylor officiating. Burial followed in Weaver Cemetery in Flora under the direction of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. Mr. Rachal died Saturday, December 11 in the Christus Cabrini Medical Center in Alexandria. GERTRUDE GILCREASE CAMPBELL Services for Gertrude Gilcrease Campbell, 79, of Bossier City were held Monday, December 13 at the Bible Missionary Church in Natchitoches with Rev. Kenneth Lukins and Rev. Whitaker officiating. Burial was in Bayou Blue Cemetery near Flora under the direction of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. Mrs. Campbell died Saturday, December 11, 1999 at her residence in Bossier City. DORIS JUANITA CAMPBELL Funeral services for Doris Juanita Campbell, 90, of Zwolle will be held Tuesday, December 14 at 2 p.m. at Bayou Scie Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Bayou Scie Cemetery under the direction of Warren Meadows Funeral Home. Ms. Campbell died Saturday, December 11, 1999 in Zwolle. ==================================================================== The Natchitoches Times obits. December 16, 1999 issue. FRANCIS E. FORD Services for Francis E. Ford, 76, of Oak Grove were held at 10 a.m. Thursday, December 16 in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home with the Rev. Bennie Bynog officiating. Burial followed in Pine Grove Cemetery in Hagewood with full military graveside rites by Sabine Chapter #21 DAV. Mr. Ford died Tuesday, December 14, 1999 at West Carroll Memorial Hospital in Oak Grove. GERALDINE (JERRI) CARTER TURPIN Services for Geraldine (Jerri) Carter Turpin will be held at First United Methodist Church in Natchitoches at 1 p.m. Friday, December 17 with the Rev. Ryan Horton officiating. Burial will follow in Memory Lawn Cemetery under the direction of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. Mrs. Turpin died Tuesday, December 14, 1999 at Live Oak Retirement Center. MRS. IVERY MARIE KAY Funeral services for Mrs. Ivery Marie Kay will be held Friday, December 17 at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church-North Street with the Rev. Monte C. Young officiating. Burial will be in the Memory Lawn Cemetery. Remains will in state Thursday from 6-10 p.m. at Winnfield Funeral Home. Mrs. Kay, a resident of Natchitoches, passed away Sunday in Natchitoches Parish Hospital. Mrs. Kay moved to Chicago, Ill., in the late 1930s where she worked for and retired from Donnelley's and Sons. She was a member of the Liberty Baptist Church in Chicago, Ill. She moved to Natchitoches in the early 1970s and united with the First Baptist Church-North Street where she remained until her death. Her survivors include her godson, Brian Lovemore (Lorita) of Natchitoches; two grandchildren, Ian and Gabriel of Natchitoches; one sister, Cora L. James of Richmond, Calif.; one niece, Rosemary Fazio (Charles) of Mt. Morris, Mich.; brother-in-law Roosevelt Newman of Chicago, Ill., and other cousins, friends and church family. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Kay; parents, Ernest Brown and Chole Odoms Brown; brothers, Clarence, Nathaniel, Richard and Ernest; three sisters, Ernestine, Leola and Mildred and brother-in-law, Lodus Roberson. The family would like to give special thanks to the Davis family for their caring generosity to the family. Special thanks to Doris Dorsey and the First Baptist Church-North Street church family. ========================================================================= The Natchitoches Times obits. December 17, 1999 issue. EDWARD "DIDDIE" MORAN, JR. Services for Edward "Diddie" Moran, Jr. of Robeline were held Thursday, December 9 at the Rocky Mount Congregational Methodist Church in Robeline with the Rev. Mike Marbut and Joe Mitchell, Jr. officiating. Burial followed in the Rocky Mount Cemetery. Full military graveside services were conducted by Sabine Chapter #24 DAV. Mr. Moran, 68, died Tuesday, December 7, 1999 at Overton Brooks Medical Center in Shreveport. He was a native of Robeline, a construction worker, a veteran of the Korean conflict, member of VFW and American Legion and a member of Rocky Mount Congregational Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by his son, Roger Dale Moran; brothers, Douglas Moran and Clyde Moran; and grandson, Kerry Dale Moran. Survivors include one daughter, Gwen Hernandez of Yorktown, Va.; two sisters, Doris Broadway of Bridge City and Grace Bowman of Marrero; one granddaughter, Andriana Hernandez; and great granddaughter Brittany Moran. GERALDINE (JERRI) CARTER TURPIN Services for Geraldine (Jerri) Carter Turpin were held at First United Methodist Church in Natchitoches at 1 p.m. Friday December 17 with a visitation at the church in Bostick Hall from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. prior to the service. The Rev. Ryan Horton officiated. Interment followed at Memory Lawn Cemetery under the direction of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. Mrs. Turpin died Tuesday, December 14, 1999 at Live Oak Retirement Community where she lived for the past eight years. Prior to moving to Shreveport, she lived in Natchitoches for 60 years and was the wife of Harry "Rags" Turpin. She was born in Arkadelphia, Ark., on April 11, 1913, graduated from Little Rock Central High School and attended Centenary College where she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha. In Natchitoches, she was a member of First United Methodist Church, Natchitoches Service League, Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches and the Geronimo Book Club. Mrs. Turpin was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Hutton Turpin; her parents, Bobbie Allen Carter and Myrlin Oscar Carter of Shreveport; and a cousin, John Carter Byers of Lubbock, Texas. Survivors include her daughter, Harryette Turpin Richardson and husband, Gene, of Shreveport and Jane Turpin Mott and husband, King, of Monroe; step-daughters, Elizabeth Turpin Reese and husband, Talmage, of Blanchard and Mary Turpin Bryan of Midland, Texas; grandchildren Amy Turpin Richardson Wood and husband, Franklin, of Powhatan, Va.; Allen Richardson of Atlanta, Ga.; Carter Richardson of Suva, Fiji; Karen Mott of Tucson, Ariz.; King Mott, Jr. and wife, Marguerite, of Madison, N. J.; Jane Mott Holland and husband, Robert, of Alexandria; and Harry Turpin Mott and wife, Michelle, of Atlanta, Ga.; Cheryl Wilson of Alexandria; Bill Bryan of Los Angeles, Calif.; and five great grandchildren. Pallbearers were her grandsons, grandsons-in-law and Roger Williams and Payten Williams. Honorary pallbearers were Walter Ledet, Norman Norsworthy and Parker Wiggens. The family thanks the devoted staff of Live Oak Retirement Community who gave of themselves to make her life a better place. A special thanks to her special sitters Mary Cameron and Viky Dewitt. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Live Oak Retirement Community, the National Alzheimer's Association-Northwest Louisiana Chapter and First United Methodist Church of Natchitoches. ============================================================ December 28, 1999 issue. FREDA SCOGGINS THOMAS Freda Scoggins Thomas, 92, died December 25, 1999 following a lengthy illness. Visitation was held at the Grimes Funeral Home in Kerrville, Texas on Monday from 1:30-2:30 p.m., followed by grave side services at the Garden of Memories Cemetery at 3 p.m. She will lie beside her husband, Maxwell John Thomas, and her daughter, Mary Galen Thomas. Mrs. Thomas is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Lovan B. and Patricia W. Thomas, of Natchitoches; granddaughter Tracy Thomas Mayo of Douglas, Ga.; and grandson Maxwell J. Thomas, II of Rowayton, Conn. Mrs. Thomas was born in Roanoke on February 4, 1907 to Simpson O. Scoggins and Mary Alice Payne Scoggins. Her father was a pioneer in digging wells for the rice industry of south Louisiana and Texas. She graduated from Welsh High School, received her undergraduate degree from Southwestern College in Winnfield, Kan., and received her graduate degree in 1936 from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. During college, she was ranked as the second collegiate woman debater in the United States. She taught English at Dodd College in Shreveport, then moved to Lake Charles where her high school debate team won national honors. In 1939 when McNeese State College was founded in Lake Charles, she became the first head of the English department. After her marriage in 1943, she and her husband purchased the New Iberia newspaper, The Daily Iberian. Two years later they sold the newspaper and moved to Crowley, where they purchased Crowley Daily Signal. While in Crowley, she wrote a newspaper column that became popular in south Louisiana. The column was named Acadianna, by which all the French Acadian portion of Louisiana is now known. The name, Thomas recalled before her death, is a derivative of Acadia Parish and the state of Louisiana-Acadiana. In 1958, they purchased the Kerrville Daily Times from G. Rankin Starkey and then sold the paper to Bill Dozier in 1965. Mrs. Thomas was first associated with the Kerrville area in the early 1930s when she was a counselor at Camp Waldemar. While in Kerrville, she was one of the original founder of the Hills Country Arts Foundation and served as president of the board of directors. She was chairman of volunteer committees at the Cowboy Arts Museum for several years. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Kerrville and in 1985 was awarded an honorary life membership in the Women of the Church, Presbyterian Church (USA). ============================================================= The Natchitoches Times obits. December 29, 1999 issue. EDITH POCHE MAHFOUZ Services for Edith Poche Mahfouz, 85, of Cloutierville were held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, December 29 in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home with the Rev. Jamie Medina officiating. Burial followed in McGlothin Cemetery in Galsbraith. Mrs. Mahfouz died Monday, December 27, 1999 at Natchitoches Parish Hospital. She was a native of Cloutierville and a former resident of Monette Ferry. She attended St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Cloutierville and Holy Family Catholic Church in Monette Ferry. She was a homemaker. Survivors include two daughters, Betty Jones of Campti and Angela Lavespere of Baton Rouge; one sister, Maggie Gregory of Cloutierville; 13 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren. JOHN W. TRISSLER, JR. Services for John W. Trissler, Jr., 66, of St. Maurice will be held Thursday, December 30 at 10 a.m. in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches with the Rev. Michele Allen officiating. Burial will be in St. Maurice Cemetery with full military graveside rites by Sabine Chapter #21 DAV. Mr. Trissler died Saturday, December 25, 1999 at his residence in St. Maurice. Mr. Trissler was a native of Lancaster, Pa. He was a retired veteran of the U. S. Air Force serving 20 years including the Korean Conflict and Viet Nam era. He was a member of the American Legion, VFW, the Phoenix Masonic Lodge #38 F & AM as a 32nd degree Mason and he was a Shriner. He was a retired auto mechanic. Survivors include his wife, Billie L. Trissler of St. Maurice; two sons, Paul K. Trissler of Natchitoches and Thomas M. Trissler of Naples, Fla.; one daughter, Alicia A. Trissler Seale of Natchitoches; three sisters, Wanda Connell of Oakland, N. J.; Myrtle Finley of Pensacola, Fla. And Lenore Gordon of Orlando, Fla.; one brother, Fred Trissler of Lowell, Maine; and one grandson, Michael Trissler of Naples, Fla. Pallbearers will be Billy DeSoto, Wayne Davison, Rick Seale, Lester Futrell, Clifton Lonadier and Frank Bowman. Visitation will be Wednesday, December 29 from 5-9 p.m. and Thursday, December 30 from 8 a.m. to service time at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches. BILL PAYNE FRIDAY Services for Bill Payne Friday, 73, of Fairview were held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, December 28 in the chapel of Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home in Coushatta with the Rev. Lindle Stewart officiating. Burial followed at L. C. Weaver Cemetery. Mr. Friday died Sunday, December 26, 1999. He was born May 24, 1926 in Natchitoches Parish. He is survived by his wife, Pearl Friday of Fairview; two sons, William Glenn Friday and his wife, Happy, of Fairview, and Kenneth Friday of Fairview; two daughters, Rhonda Ebert and husband, Wade, of Campti and Billie Ann Friday and husband Milton of Fairview; two sisters, Ruth Thomas of Chestnut and Aline Vascocu of Chestnut and six grandchildren. DANIEL M. "D.M." SPARKS Services for Daniel M. "D.M." Sparks, 69, of Natchitoches were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, December 29 in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches with the Rev. Charles Bates officiating. Burial was in Weaver Cemetery in Flora. Mr. Sparks died Monday, December 27, 1999 at Natchitoches Parish Hospital.