Obits: The Natchitoches Times, March, 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 March 13, 2002 issue WALLACE HAROLD MATTHEWS Funeral services for Wallace Harold Matthews, 76, will be held Thursday, march 14 at 3 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Natchitoches with the Revs. Doug Cain and James Poole officiating. Participating will be Fr. Stephen Scott Chemino of the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Burial will be in Memory Lawn Cemetery under the direction of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 5-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 13. Matthews died at 12:40 p.m. at the Natchitoches Parish Hospital Long Term Care Unit following a brief battle with cancer. A native of Robeline, Matthews lived a majority of his life in Natchitoches. He enjoyed a 50-year career with Natchitoches Motor Company, retiring in 1995. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and was active in several community initiatives throughout his life. He was also a World War II veteran, serving the U. S. Navy on the U. S. S. Mansfield. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Madeline Frederick Matthews; a daughter, Emilyn Matthews Horton and her husband, Steve, of Natchitoches; two sisters, Veva Matthews Grant and Ruthalee Matthews Stroud of Bossier City; and his two granddaughters, Madeline Elizabeth and Mary Katherine Horton of Natchitoches. He is also survived by C. C. "Petey" Johnson, and his wife, Marty, and their children Thomas, Anna Laura and Marie, and their grandson, Thomas, all of Alexandria. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Linnie Matthews of Robeline, and several brother and sisters. Pallbearers will be Luke Frederick, Sydney Frederick, Thomas Johnson, Ben Faucheaux, Donnie Campbell, Ronnie Campbell, Terry Stroud and Sidney (Sonny) Evans Jr. The family requests that memorials be made to St. Mary's Foundation, 1101 E. 5th St., Natchitoches, LA 71457. The family is grateful to the staffs of the Natchitoches Parish Hospital Long Term Care Unit, Hospice of Natchitoches and especially Dr. Archie Breazeale and his staff for all they did for them. FRANK CARSON SISSON Services for Frank Carson Sisson, 72, of Lubbock, Texas, were held Saturday, March 9 in the Broadview Baptist Church in Lubbock. Officiating were Dr. Cleve Kerby, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Slaton, Texas and the Rev. Truman Johnson, pastor, assisting. Arrangements were under the direction of Englunds Funeral Service of Slaton. He died Friday, March 8, 2002, at his home in Lubbock after an illness. He was born December 3, 1929, in Natchitoches and graduated from Natchitoches schools before attending East Texas Baptist University at Marshall, Texas. After receiving his BA, he received his MA from the University of North Texas and his BD from the Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary at Mill Valley, Calif. Sisson served in the U. S. Army during the Korean conflict, 1948-1955. During that time, he was with the third division of the Army and was awarded the presidential unit citation and three campaign stars. He was a bivocational pastor of churches in Nevada, California, Alaska and Texas. He participated in Church Evangelism Partnership to Japan and was a volunteer missionary to two areas in Africa from 1985-1988. Later, he was an administrator of nursing homes in Alaska, New Mexico and Texas. He married Luz Kobler Taylor in Carlsbad, N. M. on May 2, 1992. She preceded him in death on October 21, 2001. Survivors include two sons, Jonathan Paul Sisson and David Andrew Sisson, both of Borger, Texas; his stepdaughter, Julia Longan of Lubbock; four brothers, James L. Sisson of Galenda Park, Texas, Bennie R. Sisson of Orange, Texas, David H. Sisson of Pasadena, Texas, and Buddy Sisson of Natchitoches; one sister, Reva Dalton of Natchitoches; and six grandchildren. March 19, 2002 issue R. G. GRAY Funeral services for R. G. Gray, 73, of Fairview Alpha were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 19 at the Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home chapel in Coushatta with the Revs. Larry Joyner and Olan McLaren and Sis. Margaret Bonnette officiating under the direction of Rockett-Nettles. Burial followed in Bethany Cemetery. Born November 11, 1928, Mr. Gray died Sunday, March 17, 2002. Mr. Gray was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Minnie Gray, and one brother, Thurman Gray. He is survived by his wife, Opal G. Gray of Fairview Alpha; one daughter, Karen Sue Evans of Pineville; one son, Ralph Gray and wife, Juanice, of Fairview Alpha; three grandchildren, Jonathan Evans, Pamela Jill Gray and Joseph Hank Gray; five sisters, Helen Messick and husband, Truette, of Kilgore, Texas, Pauline Allums and Beatrice Sitter, both of Shreveport, Jean Woosley of Cape Coral, Fla., and Bobbie Slaton of Tennessee; and special nieces, Sandy and Ginger. Pallbearers were Joe Wayne Buswell, Herchell Adams, Claude Veatch, Billy Joe Wiggins, Drew Adams and Ronnie Key. Honorary pallbearers were Charles Long, Johnny Holley and C. Y. Adams. WILBUR P. JACOB Graveside services for Wilbur P. Jacob, 81, of Fredericksburg, Texas, will be held on Friday, March 22 at 10 a.m. in the Old Robeline Cemetery in Robeline. Mr. Jacob died Sunday, March 17 in his home. He is survived by his wife, Justine Lynn Minet Jacob of Fredericksburg; one son, Patrick W. and Nut. Jacob of Houston; one daughter, Diana S. and Terry Naba of Grapevine, Texas; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one sister, Betty Jean Matthews of Bossier City. For those who so desire, you may make a memorial contribution in his memory to the Fredericksburg United Methodist Church or to the charity of your choice. MRS. EUNICE A. STRICKLAND Services for Mrs. Eunice A. Strickland, 82, of Natchitoches were held Saturday, March 16 at the Church of the Nazarene in Natchitoches with the Rev. Robert "Bud" Prentice officiating. Burial followed in the Memory Lawn Cemetery under the direction of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. Mrs. Strickland died Wednesday, March 13, 2002, in Shreveport after a brief illness. She was a resident of Natchitoches since 1951 and a member of the Church of the Nazarene. She was survived by her son, Gary Adams of Baton Rouge, and her daughter, Barbara O'Con of Natchitoches; three sisters, Alma Berry of Denver, Colo., Dorothy Propps of Bethany, Okla., and Eva Houge of Ansted W. Va.; two brothers, Robert Rogers of Hico, W. Va., and Ewell Rogers of Fayetteville, N. C.; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Woodrow Strickland, and a son, Paul Richard Adams. Pallbearers were David Lentz, Jimmy Lofton, Weldon McClung, Houston Boyt, Glen Ammons and Don Reed. March 16-17, 2002 issue LUSTERINE FISHER Graveside services for Lusterine Ingram Fisher, 85, of Cisco, Texas, were held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 5 at the Oakwood Cemetery with Bro. Floyd Aldredge officiating under the direction of Kimbrough Funeral Home. Mrs. Fisher died Sunday, March 3, 20052, at her home. She was born on July 20, 1916, in Marthaville to Perry E. and Clara (Ballard) Ingram. She married Claude Middleton Fisher on August 15, 1941, in Bossier City. He was preceded her in death on January 10, 1996. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Psi chapter and a graduate of Northwestern State University. She was a high school math teacher in Sabine Parish at the time of her retirement in 1979. She was also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints of Eastland, Texas. She was preceded in death by her husband and her parents. Survivors are a son, Clyde, and wife, Diane Fisher, of Cisco; granddaughters, Shawn Malone and husband, Dr. Michael Malone, of Toledo, Ohio, and Karen Wilson and husband, Jim, of Houston; and three great- grandchildren, Ryan Malone of Toledo and Audrey and Lindsey Wilson, both of Houston. Memorial may be made to Cisco EMS, Girling Hospice of Eastland or Eastland Memorial Hospital. March 8, 2002 issue BONNIE RACHAL WALSTON Services for Bonnie Rachal Walston, 53, of Bossier City were held Friday, March 8 at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches with the Rev. Ricky Middleton officiating. Burial was in Weaver Cemetery at Flora. Mrs. Walston died Wednesday, March 6, 2002 in Willis Knighton North Medical Center in Shreveport. She was a native of Natchitoches and a former licensed practical nurse at Willis Knighton North Medical Center and Schumpert Medical Center in Shreveport. She was preceded in death by a son, Jacob Micah Walston; and her father, Sidney D. Rachal. Survivors include her husband, Johnny Walston of Bossier City; one daughter, Jamie Leigh Walston of Bossier City; her mother, Lurline Longlois Rachal of Natchitoches; two sisters, Sydney Hamby of Natchitoches and Diane Allen of Benton; a grandson, James Denver Abriatis of Bossier City; four nieces and nephews, Amy Crain, Tracy Nations, Anthony Hamby and Brandon Allen. Pallbearers were Terry Mitchell, Ray Huffman, Louis Williford, Anthony Hamby, Blake Nations and Tim Crain. WILLIAM JOSEPH TOBIN Funeral services for William Joseph Tobin, 85, were held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 7 at St. Ann Catholic Church in Robeline. Interment was in Spanish Lake Cemetery in Robeline under the direction of Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Cleveland, Texas. Mr. Tobin was born July 16, 1916. He passed away March 3, 2002. He is survived by two sons, Don Tobin and his wife, Yvonne, of Natchitoches and Michael Tobin of Cleveland, Texas; two sisters, Agnes Tullos of Ace, Texas, and Geraldine LaGrange of Arnuaville; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. March 2-3, 2002 issue BESSIE BREEDLOVE Catholic prayer services were held for Bessie Breedlove, 93, of Natchitoches at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 2 with Deacon Joe Peltier officiating. Interment followed in Fern Park Cemetery under the direction of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. Mrs. Breedlove died Thursday, February 28, 2002 at Natchitoches Parish Hospital after a brief illness. She was a native and life-long resident of Natchitoches and a member of the Immaculate Conception Church. She was a homemaker. She is survived by two sons, Bobby Breedlove and his wife, Frances, of Shreveport and Lloyd Breedlove of Natchitoches; one sister, Claudia Davis of Shreveport; and three grandchildren, Ruth Adams of Shreveport, Rebecca Breedlove of Shreveport and Lisa Ann Davis of Germany