Obits: The Natchitoches Times, February 2002 Submitted by: Suzanne Shoemaker 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 ********************************************** The Natchitoches Times Obits February 5, 2002 issue DEATH NOTICE RAYMOND JOSEPH HEBERT SR. Funeral services for Raymond Joseph Hebert Sr., 83, of Natchitoches were held at 8 a.m. Tuesday, February 5 in Blanchard-St. Denis Chapel with Rev. Dan O'Connor officiating. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. in Restlawn Park Cemetery at Avondale. Mr. Hebert died Sunday, February 3, 2002, in Natchitoches Parish Hospital. February 9-10, 2002 issue WOODROW WILSON TURNER Woodrow Wilson Turner, 87, passed away February 6, 2002 at Doctor's Hospital in Shreveport after a brief illness. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 9 in the chapel of Osborn Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Columbia Cemetery in Columbia. Mr. Turner was born in Springhill August 5, 1914. He was a resident of Shreveport for 50 years. He graduated from Northwestern State University with a BA in education followed by a MS degree in science from LSU. He worked for more than 50 years in the education field as a teacher, coach, principal and supervisor. He taught at every grade level, kindergarten through college. He was an instructor for four years in the U. S. Army during WWII, specialized troops. He was a member of many clubs and organizations including the Kiwanis, the Shriners, the Masons, and the "N" Club. Woodrow was a tireless supporter of the Springhill Athletic Hall of Fame and the sport of track and field. During his coaching career at Byrd High School from 1952-1967 his track and field team won the state championship nine times, and four times his team came in second. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lorraine Blanks Turner. He is survived by one daughter, Brenda Turner Goodman of Shreveport; two granddaughters, Michelle Goodman Shouse and husband, Jerry, of Shreveport and Lara Goodman Weber and husband, Rick, of Alameda, Calif. He adored his two great grandchildren, Kathryn Claire Shouse and Christopher Robert Weber. Pallbearers were Jerry Shouse, Rick Weber, Randy Shouse, Chris Shouse, James Turner, Jr. and Harold Smith. Honorary pallbearers were Jesse Boucher, Frank Pernici, Charles Buie, Jerry Byrd, Walter Ledet, Pat Studstill, Clayton James, Nick Lester, Jack Rogers and Harry Carpenter. Special thanks to Dr. Forrest Jones, Dr. Richard Barnett, and Dr. Benjamin Nguyen as well as Doctor's Hospital ICU nursing and support staff including Pam, Mary Jane, Sandra, Ericka, Ginger, Sherylnne, Carmen, and especially Katherine. Memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 3100 Samford Ave. 71103. February 14, 2002 issue HOWARD HENRY TATE Memorial services for Howard Henry Tate, 39, of Junction City, Kan., will be held Saturday, February 16, 2002 at 2 p.m. at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel in Coushatta. Mr. Tate passed away Saturday, February 9, 2002 due to an automobile accident. He was preceded in death by his father, Clyde Tate. Survivors include his wife, Barbara Tate of Junction City, Kan.; mother, Ermadell Tate of Natchitoches; two brothers, David Tate of Benton and Glen Tate of Natchitoches; two sisters, Betty Tate Hopkins of Milpitas, Calif., and Kathy Tate Davis of Natchitoches; one nephew, John Clyde Davis; two nieces, Janice and Fran Davis; and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins. MAJOR J. REID RODGERS NOV. 24, 1964-FEB. 8, 2002 Major J. Reid Rodgers, a career Army officer, resident of Natchitoches, and a native of Sumter, S. C., passed away Friday, February 8, 2002. A military memorial service will be held Monday, February 18 at 4:30 p.m. at Magale Recital Hall on the campus of Northwestern State University. Major Rodgers was commissioned an Infantry Officer in May, through the Army ROTC program at the University of North Carolina. Prior to commissioning, Major Rodgers served with the North Carolina National Guard for three years as an infantry officer/cadet. His assignments included scout and rifle platoon leader. During his tour of duty with the National Guard, Major Rodgers earned the Parachutist Badge, the Expert Infantry Badge and completed two rotations to the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif. Upon graduation from UNC, Major Rodgers was accessed into active Army as an engineer officer. He attended the Engineer Officer Basic Course at Fort Belvoir, Va., and was then assigned to the 5th Engineer Battalion (Combat), Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., where he served as Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer. In 1990, Major Rodgers was deployed with his unit to Operation Desert Shield/Storm where his unit served under Task Force 4-64 Armor, 1st Bde, 24th Infantry Division, which was to later become one of the most heavily engaged units of the war. Major Rodgers later served with the 589th Engineer Battalion, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., as chief, Basic Rifle Marksmanship Committee. He activated the post's first Advanced Marksmanship Training Unit and was the OIC/coach of the Installation Rifle Team. Major Rodgers competed in numerous rifle and pistol matches culminating in his first place finish in the 1992 Commanding General's Match. Following this accomplishment he was offered the distinguished opportunity to join the All-Army Rifle Team based out of Fort Benning, Ga. Major Rodgers spent five months touring the country and competing with the All-Army Team. Major Rodgers volunteered and was selected to attend the Infantry Officers Advanced Course at Fort Benning, Ga. After graduation, he was assigned to the 43rd Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Heavy) as the Battalion S4. During this period he deployed to south Florida in direct support of the Hurricane Andrew Relief Effort. Major Rodgers was later assigned to the 317th Engineers. During his 18-month command he deployed on two National Training Center Rotations. Major Rodgers was in the process of changing command when his unit was deployed to Southwest Asia for Operation Vigilant Warrior. After deploying for combat in the Kuwaiti Desert, tensions eased and his unit returned to the United States. In 1994, Major Rodgers was assigned to US Army Cadet Command with duty at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn. Here he served as Battalion Executive Officer, and later as Training Officer and Military Science III Instructor. During this assignment, his cadets achieved a national second place finish at Advanced Camp 1997. Following attendance at the Combined Arms Services Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kan., Major Rodgers was assigned to AC/RC duty at Fort Jackson, S. C., where he served as the plans officer for the 4th Training Support Battalion. In 1999 Major Rodgers joined the Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) and returned to Cadet Command with duty at Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, where he served as the battalion S3/operations officer and military science III instructor. Major Rodgers' awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Reserve Forces Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service with three Bronze service stars, Liberation of Kuwait Medal, Saudi Arabia, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Superior Unit Award, Parachutist Badge, and the Excellence-in-Competition Badge, Rifle. Major Rodgers is survived by his wife, Lisa Mitchum Rodgers of Sumter, S. C. They have two children, Jordan, 12 and Bryce, 4. February 23-24, 2002 issue LANCE ANDREW LACAZE A mass of Christian burial was held at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 23 for Mr. Lance Andrew LaCaze at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Cloutierville with Fr. Gregory Downs officiating. Interment was in St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Cloutierville under the direction of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. Mr. LaCaze died Tuesday, February 19, 2002, in Shreveport. He was a native and resident of Natchitoches. He was a carpenter and an auto body repairman. He was survived by his wife, Marie C. LaCaze of Natchitoches; one son, Cody Andrew LaCaze of Natchitoches; a daughter, Cheryl Lynn LaCaze of Waukesha, Wis.; three sisters, Lillian Roque of Chicago, Ill., Shirley Delphin and Mary Margaret Patin, both of Natchitoches; and two grandchildren. Pallbearers were Alphonse Balthazar, Roland Leblanc, Donald Curry, Bill Chevelier, Michael Roque and Calvin Patin. ALLIENE MELANCON Alliene Melancon died Wednesday, February 20, 2002, in her home in Natchitoches. Funeral arrangements are pending. February 26, 2002 MELISSA ANN GOODEN Funeral services for Melissa Ann Gooden, 22, of Campti will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, February 27 at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel in Coushatta with Bro. Ray Self officiating. Burial will be in Davis Springs Cemetery. Born October 17, 1979, Miss Gooden died Saturday, February 23, 2002. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Mavis Ayers. She is survived by her self-appointed parents, Jack and Diane Foster; parents William and Ruby Gooden; five brothers, William Jr., James, Troy, Corey and Kevin Gooden; one sister, Maranda Mosley, and her husband, Billy; grandparents, John and Naomi Foster, all of Campti, and Ed and Marie Ward of Holden; three self-appointed sisters, Amanda French, Jill and Jenny Rummings; and one self-appointed brother, Jason Foster, all of Campti. Pallbearers will be Michael Ford, James Moore, Ray Foster, James Gooden, William Gooden Jr. and Jan A. Foster. Honorary pallbearers are Robert Foster, Jessie Session and Tommy Session. STANWOOD H. ALLEN SR. CSM RET. U.S. ARMY Services for Stanwood H. Allen Sr., CSM Retired U. S. Army, 82, of Natchitoches are pending following his death Friday, February 22, 2002, in Natchitoches Parish Hospital. Mr. Allen was a native of Saugus, Mass. He was a retired command sergeant major serving in the U. S. Army, a veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict and a member of the Non-Commissioned Officers Association. He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris M. Allen, and his sister, Virginia. Survivors include one son, Stan Allen Jr., and his wife, Lonette, of Natchitoches; one daughter, Joyce H. Mitchell, and her husband, William, of Chesapeake, Va.; one sister, Audrey Daly of Portsmouth, N. H.; one brother, Howard Allen of Port Charles, Fla.; seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. DEAN THOMPSON KNIGHT Services for Dean Thompson Knight, 70, of Chopin were held at 1 p.m. Saturday, February 23 in Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Gerald Sanson officiating. Burial was in Bay Springs Cemetery at Chopin. Mrs. Knight died Wednesday, February 20, 2002, in San Jacinto Methodist Hospice Center in Baytown, Texas. She was a native and lifelong resident of Chopin. She was a homemaker and a member of Bay Springs Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Perry L. Knight; a son, Michael Royce Knight; a sister, Ada Ruth Martin; and her father, Howard Thompson. Survivors include three sons, Leonard Perry Knight of Baton Rouge, Joel Craig Knight of Chopin and Martin Eric Knight of Baytown, Texas; three daughters, Karen Devers of Houston, Texas, Phyllis Neel of Katy, Texas, and Andrea Arnold of Baytown; her mother, Florence Thompson of Chopin; two sisters, Glenda Austin of Many and Mary Opal Woods of Chopin; eight grandchildren, Jeremy Arnold, Audrey "Tess" Arnold, Christopher Neel, Savannah Knight, Micki Knight, Jessica Knight, Daniel Knight and Shannon Knight. Pallbearers were Leonard Knight, Craig Knight, Martin Knight, Norman Neel, Stephen Devers and Richard Arnold. ALLIENE COLDE MELANCON Services for Alliene Cole Melancon, 81, of Natchitoches were held at 10 a.m. Monday, February 25 in the Church of the Immaculate Conception with Fr. Carson LaCaze officiating. Burial was in the Catholic Cemetery Mausoleum under the direction of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. Mrs. Melancon died Wednesday, February 20, 2002, I her residence at Natchitoches. She was a native of Winnfield, a homemaker and member of the Holy Sepulcher with the rank of Lady Commander with Star, Catholic Daughters of the Americas and Church of the Immaculate Conception in Natchitoches. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Betty Jean Strieffer; a son, Justell Thomas Melancon Jr. M. D.; and brothers John Richard Cole, Fred Cole and Ira B. Cole. Survivors include her husband of 60 years, Dr. J. T. Melancon of Natchitoches; one daughter, Annie Lou Sparks of Tucson, Ariz.; one sister, Mildred Crooks of Trout; five grandchildren, Dr. Kimberly A. Sparks of Boston, Mass., Angela K. McGreevy and her husband, T. J. of Tucson, Ariz., Dr. Stephen K, Strieffer and his wife, Julia, of St. Paul, Minn., and Dr. Robert K. Strieffer and his wife, Catherine, of Madison, Wis.; three great grandchildren, Keegan E. McGreevy of Tucson, Ariz., Samuel J. Strieffer and Aaron A. Strieffer, both of Madison, Wis.. Pallbearers were Clyde Crooks, Charles Wesley Crooks, Albert Frederick Cole, Jimmy Scott, Roy Pontieux and Dewey Page. Honorary pallbearers were Sam Hill Jr., Luther LeBorde, Dr. Harold Beebe, Dr. Ronnie Powell, Dr. Archie Breazeale, Dr. John Gilmer and Dr. Roy Cook. Special thanks to Allen Jones, Margaret Jones, and Lucille Butler. RAY ISIACC BYNOG Services for Ray Isiacc Bynog, 60, of Turlock, Calif., will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, February 27 at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home Chapel in Natchitoches. Burial will be in Fern Park Cemetery in Natchitoches. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to service time at Blanchard-St. Denis on Wednesday. Mr. Bynog died Thursday, February 21, 2002.