ST. TAMMANY PARISH, LA. 

Obituary for: WOOLLEY, FRANCIS R., JR.

Submitted by: Louis Lavedan. 

Source: E.J. Fielding  Funeral Home, Covington, La.

Died: Saturday, August 5, 2017

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WOOLLEY, FRANCIS R., JR.
November 8, 1935 - August 5, 2017

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Francis Russell Woolley, 81, passed away peacefully August 5, 2017, in 
Covington, LA. 

Russell was born November 8, 1935, in Shreveport, LA, to Francis Woolley and 
Leanora (Ricks) Woolley. 
He graduated Jesuit High School in 1953, and he then pursued his love of cars 
and relied upon his great precision machining skills to open Shreve Automotive 
with his two friends and partners, Bud Hargrove and Ray Harris. In 1959, 
Russell married Judith (Judy) Dupuy, a nursing student whom Russell met at a 
St. John’s Catholic Church social in Shreveport.

In 1963, Shreve Automotive, acting upon its growing nationwide reputation for 
building specialized racing engines, relocated to Metairie, LA. There Russell 
and his partners, while establishing themselves as a top engine 
repair/rebuilding shop in the region, also created the Shreve Automotive racing 
team and built one of the top double-A fuel dragsters in the country. 
Throughout the racing and engine repair community, Russell maintained a well-
earned reputation as being a leader in innovation and skilled craftsmanship who 
was impeccably honest in all his dealings. His word was truly his bond.

After retirement from his business, Russell and Judy moved to their acreage 
outside Bush, LA, where Russell loved working on his tractor and his cars.

Russell is survived by his wife Judy, his two brothers, Gerry Woolley (Terrell, 
TX), and Stephen Woolley (Flint, TX), his five children, Mary Woolley (Espoo, 
Finland), Phyllis Dolence (Webb City, MO), Karen Marks (Bush, LA) Don Woolley 
(Metairie, LA), and Christine Woolley Desroche (Metairie, LA), two sons-in-law, 
and eight grandchildren.

Visitation with the family will be held Saturday, August 12, 2017, from 9:00 to 
11:00 at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 20370 Smith Road, in Covington, LA. 
Funeral services will be held immediately after at 11 a.m. at the church. 

Internment services will be held at St. Joseph’s Abbey Cemetery, 75376 River 
Road, Saint Benedict, LA, following the funeral service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Little Sisters of the Poor, 1655 
McGill Avenue, Mobile, AL 36604 in Russell’s name.

E.J. Fielding Funeral Home entrusted with the arrangements

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