Obituaries:  Edwin Ray Lites, Sabine Parish       L-320
Source:  Sabine Index, Many, La., May 21, 1997
Submitted by: Carl Dilbeck
              carlrad@earthlink.net


**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************


Edwin Ray Lites

  Funeral services for Edwin Ray Lites, 63, of Many, will be held
at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 18, at the First Baptist Church of Many.
Graveside services will follow at the Mt. Zion Cemetery.
Officiating will be Dr. Edwin Scott, Rev. Robert Spear, Rev. Hoy
Leach, and Rev. Kenneth Leach.

  Mr. Lites passed away on Friday, May 16, 1997, at Schumpert
Medical Center, after a brief illness. He was a native of Many.

  Mr. Lites was preceded in death by his father, T. J. Lites Jr.;
mother, Eutha Brumley Lites Mains; and stepfather, Roy Mains. He
is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Anna Peterson Lites;
one daughter, Eileen Ray Byrd and husband Paul of Shreveport; one
brother, Charles R. Mains and wife Verda of Many; one niece,
Nancy Mains Webb and husband Bruce of Port Isabel, Texas; one
nephew, Chuck Mains of San Marcos, Texas; and two great nieces,
Corine, and Noel Webb.

  Born in 1934, in the Mt. Zion Community, Mr. Lites received his
early education at Morgan City, and Many Elementary, and was
graduated from Many High School in 1952. Upon completion of High
School, he entered Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, and
in 1954, left to enter the United States Army, becoming a member
of the famed 82nd Airborne Division, where he completed 31 jumps,
attained the rank of Sgt. First Class, and became a jumpmaster.
He also served as an instructor and recruiter for the 18th
Airborne Corps. He was honorably discharged in 1956.

  In 1958 he began attending Northwestern State University in
Natchitoches, which he graduated from in 1960, with a B.S. degree
in education, plus 15 hours of graduate work in administration
and supervision. Mr. Lites taught school at Ebarb High School
from 1960-1963, leaving to begin his lengthy career with the
United States Postal Service, at the Many Post Office, as a
clerk. In 1964, he became the Assistant Postmaster, and in 1972,
was appointed to the position of Postmaster. In 1992, after an
outstanding postal career, Mr. Lites retired to enjoy time with
his family and friends.

  Mr. Lites was a people oriented person, dedicated to providing
leadership and service to his community, and to business
activities. Some of his accomplishments and memberships over his
lifetime included the following:
  Board of Directors for the Peoples State Bank,
  Louisiana Postmasters Assn.,
  Sabine Association for Retarded Citizens,
  Mt. Zion Cemetery Committee,
  Sabine Parish Chamber of Commerce,
  Sabine Medical Center Board of Trustees,
  Sabine Parish Planning Commission,
  Many High Tiger Club,
  member and Past Worshipful Master of Many Masonic Lodge
#411,
  member Masonic Lodge of Perfection 32nd Degree, Sabine
Chapter #171 Order of Eastern Star,
  National Association of Postmasters of the United States,
  Past President of Louisiana Association of Postmasters,
  National Policy Committee of National Association of
Postmasters,
  and Past Louisiana Postmaster of the Year.

  Pallbearers will be Tracy Lites, Danny Lites, Jimmy Lites,
Donald Scaife, John Byrd, Dennis Leach, Harold Brumley, Alfice
Brumley, Bobby Brumley, Harlon Wright, Glenn Peterson, and David
Garcie. Honorary pallbearers are the Board of Directors of
Peoples State Bank, Board of Directors Sabine Association for
Retarded Citizens, Board of Directors Sabine Parish Water
District #1, and Board of Directors of Sabine Parish Library.

  The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that memorials be made
to Mt. Zion Cemetery Fund.

  The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to
the staff on the 9th floor of the Medical Tower at Schumpert
Medical Center for the kindness and compassion shown to Mr. Lites
throughout his illness.

  Warren Meadows, Many, La.