Obituary: Patricia Wilds Myers,Tensas Parish, Louisiana
From the Tensas Gazette, January 5, 2000
Submitted by: Edith Ziegler

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    Funeral services were held for Patricia Wilds Myers, 75 years of
age, of St. Joseph, Louisiana on Thursday, December 30, 1999, at the
St. Joseph's Catholic Church in St. Joseph. Patricia died on Tuesday,
December 28 at St. Francis Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria after a
lengthy illness.  Father Anthony Aelavanthara, Father William Dennis,
and Father Alfred Camp celebrated the funeral Mass.
    Visitation was held on Wednesday night at Laird Funeral Home in
Natchez, Mississippi. Father Anthony Aelavanthara led family and
friends in the Glorious mysteries of the Holy Rosary.
    Internment was in the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction
of Laird Funeral Home of Natchez.
    Mrs. Myers was born on June 27,1924, in Natchez, Mississippi, to
Alice Robinson and Oliver Newton Wilds, Sr.  Pat was a graduate of
Joseph Moore Davidson High School in St. Joseph and attended Sophie
Newcomb College in New Orleans and Louisiana Tech University in 
Ruston where she was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority.  She graduated 
from the University of Alabama.
    On November 17, 1949, Patricia Wilds and Paul Alexander Myers, Jr.
were wed.
    In 1953 they bought the Tensas Gazette.  After his death in 1964,
she continued as the publisher/owner of the The Tensas Gazette.  In 
1974 when she purchased the Richland Beacon-News in Rayville, she
served as publisher/owner of both newspapers.  She retired in 1988.
    Pat was actively involved in community affairs.  She was a 
member of the Tensas Development Board, Tensas Garden Club, Pilgrim-
age Garden Club of Natchez, St Joseph Cosmopolitan Club, The 3rd
Monday Bridge Club, The Lake Bruin Country Club, The Bruin-Vidal
Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a patron of
the St. Joseph Community Orchestra.
    She was on the advisory council of the Tensas Plantation Museum,
and Wildlife Museum.  She was recently appointed to the Louisiana
State Park Foundation Board and was instrumental in the reopening of
Winter Quarters, a state commemorative plantation in Newellton.  She
served as an official hostess at The Briars in Natchez, Mississippi
during the pilgrimage for many years.  In 1997 she was selected as
Citizen of the Year by the St. Joseph Rotary Club.
    Mrs. Myers was a lifelong member of the Roman Catholic faith and
a member of the St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
    Mrs. Myers is survived by her beloved brother, Newton Wilds of
Natchez, Mississippi and four children:Paul Alexander "Andy" Myers,III
of Gulf Breeze, Florida, and wife, Dee; LaRue Myers Cooper of Dry
Prong, Louisiana and husband Jackie; Morris Newton Myers of Temecula,
California and wife Angela; and Alice Robinson "Robin" Myers of St.
Joseph.  She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Christy Cooper
Lee, of St. Joseph, Amanda Cooper, Jackson Cooper and Allie Cooper
all of Dry Prong, Oliver Myers of Temecula, California, Paul Myers IV
of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; two step-grandchildren Lisa Schroeder, 
and Kevin Register both of Florida; and one great granddaughter Sydney
Catherine Lee of St. Joseph; and three step-great grandchildren Kaylee
Minton, Bryce Schroeder and Alyssa Register all of Florida.
    Serving the family as pallbearers were Allen Morse, John Crigler,
Sidney Lee, Steven Green, James Paxton, Richard Netterville, Britt
Keahey and Paul Walker.
    Serving as honorary pallbearers were Jimmy Crigler, Robert James
Lancaster, Oliver Berry, Freddie Baragona, Stan Bagwell, Jack Grace,
Jr., Prent Castle, Sr., Phil Watson and William Wade Watson.
    Memorials may be made to the St. Joseph's Catholic Church.