Obituaries from The Leesville Daily Leader - 2014 Copyright 2014 Leesville Daily Leader ************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************** Ernest Ray Blow Graveside funeral services for Mr. Ernest Ray Blow of Stone Mountain, Georgia, originally of Leesville, will be held Monday, March 10, 2014 at Leesville Memorial Cemetery on Sawyer Road. He leaves to cherish his memory a host of relatives and friends, who are asked to assemble at the cemetery for his burial service. Alton LeRoy Emmons Graveside services for Alton LeRoy "Pop" Emmons, of Leesville will be held Monday, March 3, 2014, at the Leesville Cemetery, under the direction of Labby Memorial Funeral Home of Leesville. Mr. Emmons went to his eternal home Feb. 27, 2014, at the age of 97. "Pop" was born on Dec. 18, 1916, in Pelican. Alton was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Christine Rains Emmons (1996); his second wife of 12 years, Lucille Mitchell Emmons (2009); and his stepson, Ronnie Mitchell. Alton is survived by his only daughter, Charlotte Emmons Smith and husband, Bobby of Leesville; grandsons, Douglas F. Smith and wife Stacey of Beaumont, Texas and Dr. Damon A. Smith ans wife, Sarah of Austin, Texas; great-grandsons Tyler R. Smith of Beaumont, Texas and Rhys A. Smith of Austin, Texas; stepson Donnie Mitchell and his wife, Edie; stepdaughter-in-law, Linda Mitchell; and two stepdaughters, Connie and Bonnie. Sylvia Gibson Funeral services for Sylvia "Aunt Mutt" Gibson, 87, of Leesville will be held Wednesday, March 19, 2014, at Pleasant View Baptist Church in Hornbeck with Rev. John Lewing, II and Rev. Jack Bell officiating. Burial will follow in the Toro Cemetery under the direction of Labby Memorial Funeral Home of Leesville. Sylvia, the daughter of Lloyd and Lula Savell Ford, was born Feb. 22, 1927, in Florien. She passed away Sunday, March 16, 2014, in Alexandria. She was preceded in death by her husband, Glen Gibson, and children, Faye Johnson, Diane Gibson and Harvey Gibson. She is survived by her children, LaVerne Gibson and Milton Charles of Leesville, Yvonne Parker of Hornbeck, Barbara Treese and husband Steve of Katy Texas, Waine Ross and wife Eva of Anacoco, Glen Gibson and wife Mary of Oregon, Carolyn Wilbur of Sherman, Texas and Francis Knippers of Hornbeck; thirty grandchildren and sixty-plus great-grandchildren. Dr. Walter Clarence Hughes A memorial service for Walter Clarence Hughes, 82, will be held March 22, 2014, at the First Baptist Church in Hornbeck. He departed this life to be with Jesus on March 13, 2014. Bro. Jack Bell will officiate. Arrangements were entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home. Clarence was born in Hornbeck on Dec. 18, 1931 and graduated from Hornbeck High in 1950. He attended Northwestern State College, where he obtained a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. He taught half a year at Westlake High before entering the Army for two years. He was preceded in death by parents, William Benjamin and Mary Ellen Hughes; twin brother, Philip Murry Hughes; brother, George Benjamin Hughes; and sisters, Zelia Elizabeth Ferguson, Gladys Lola Davenport, Mary Louise Hughes, and Mamie Beatrice Evonne Beebe. He is survived by his wife, Jeanette; daughter, Rebecca Ann "Becky" Hughes and Alan B. Dewey, partner, of Lake Charles and daughter, Belinda Yvonne Hughes of Hornbeck; and sister, Lillie Wilmuth Seagrave of Hornbeck. Alton Norris Services for Alton "Buddy" Norris will be held on Sunday, March 9, 2014 in the Christian Living Fellowship Church on Section Line Rd. with Pastor Bobby Ganaway officiating. Burial with Masonic rites will follow in the Pine Island Cemetery near Pickering under the care of Jeane's Funeral Service of Leesville. Mr. Norris, 77, of Anacoco, passed away on Friday, March 7, 2014 at his residence in Anacoco. He was born Jan. 26, 1937 to Otto and Pearlie Mae Warwick Norris. He was a carpenter by trade, but retired as a model-maker for the United States Army at Fort Polk. Mr. Norris was preceded in death by his wife, Merlene Eddlemon Norris; his parents, Otto and Pearlie Norris; his brother, L.V. Norris; and his son, William Norris. Survivors include his daughters, Alice O'Banion and husband Mike "Coon": O'Banion and Mamie Chouest and husband Tommy, all of Pickering; daughter-in-law, Rhonda Norris of Georgetown; his special friend, Maybeth Maxwell of Georgetown; nine grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren. Aline Parker Funeral services for Aline Parker, 79, of Leesville will be held Monday, March 10, 2014, at Pine Hill Baptist Church in Leesville with Rev. Tri Evans officiating. Burial will follow in the Pine Hill Cemetery, under the direction of Labby Memorial Funeral Home of Leesville. Aline, the daughter of Elzie and Lucy Brister Jones, was born Dec. 15, 1934, in Leesville. She passed away Thursday, March 6, 2014, in Leesville. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Willie Jones. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Marvin Parker of Leesville; her sons, Paul Edward Parker and Danny Lynn Parker, both of Leesville; and her sister, Louise Irey of Rospine. Myrtle Rock Funeral services for Myrtle Rock, 80, of New Orleans will be held at Saturday, March 22, 2014, at the Greater Bethel A.M.E. Church in Leesville with Rev. Louis Smith, Rev. Maurice Johnson and Rev. Joe Green officiating. Burial will follow in the Leesville Memorial Cemetery, under the direction of Labby Memorial Funeral Home of Leesville. On Monday, March 10, 2014, angels were sent to welcome Myrtle Rock ("Murl" or "Aunt Murl," as she was affectionately called) into Heavenly Rest. Murl was born Aug. 21, 1933, in Leesville, and joined Bethel A.M.E. Church at an early age. She met and married Frank Rock, Sr., in Sept. 1954. She is predeceased by her husband Frank; son, Gary Rock; mother, Mattie Wells; sister, Delories Wells, and niece, Cheryl Wells. She leaves to cherish her loving memories her daughters, Charmaine Rock of New Orleans and Rochelle (Cookie) Rock of Ellicott City, Maryland; sons Frank Rock, Jr. of Indianapolis, Indiana; Gordon (Jennifer) Rock of Ellicott City, Maryland; Craig (Crystal) Rock of Hammond, Louisiana; Gregory Rock of Houston, Texas; and Marlon Rock of Baltimore, Maryland; ten grandchildren, Myrtle, Nathan, Chris, Xavier, Jalisa, Stephan, Craig, Crystinne, Chala, and J-hmya; three great- grandchildren, Laia, Avery, and Dylan; two half-sisters and one half-brother, Ethel Wells, Lucinda Carr, and Edward Wells of Kansas City, Missouri; brother-in-law Sylvester Roc and sister- in-law Helen Rock, both of Leesville. Margaret Shorley Services for Margaret "Muggs" Shorley, 80, will be held Thursday, March 20, 2014 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, South Dakota. Pastor Deb Grismer will be officiating. Burial will take place at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Margaret died on Saturday, March 15 at ManorCare Health Services. Margaret "Muggs" Dunkel, daughter of Henry and Averil (Edwards) Dunkel, was born on June 28, 1933 in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Margaret was united in marriage to George Shorley Sr. on July 22, 1951 in Aberdeen. For a short time, the couple made their home in Texas while George served during the Korean Conflict. Her beloved husband died on Nov. 30, 1986. Grateful for having shared Margaret's life are her children, Gail (Mike) Hixon, Centennial, Colorado; Sheryl Lynne Coplin, Slagle; George Shorley Jr., Helena, Montana; Richard (Lisa) Shorley, Watertown, South Dakota; and Michael (Cindy) Shorley, Aberdeen South Dakota; grandchildren, Michael (Jeanne) Hixon Jr., Nathan (Melissa Hopkins) Hixon, Erik (Christine) Coplin, Sean, Sarah and Danny Shorley, Joshua and Jordan Shorley and Danielle (Andrew) Riggin; great- grandchildren, Jeffery, Cash, Hallee, Chris, Kiley, Kellen and Connor; sisters, Audrey (Jerry) Van Dover, Janice Boschee and Doris Conn; and brother Henry (Diane) Dunkel. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. Clara Grace Stanly Spence Clara Grace Stanly Spence, 89, of Rosepine was called home on Friday, March 7, 2014 at Byrd Memorial Hospital in Leesville. She was born on Belview Road in Leesville on Nov. 14, 1924 to Clara Stephens and Major Finly Stanly. She is survived by her nieces, Brenda and husband Charles Bealer of Leesville, Becky and husband Vince King of Denton, Texas, Sarah and husband Kevin McKinney of Denton, Texas; Liz and husband Tom Driggers of Reston, Virginia; and Ruth and husband Charlie Salvaggio of Tokyo, Japan (permanent residents of Columbia, Maryland); her first cousin, Thelma Ruth Stephens Childs and husband John O. of Tyler, Texas; special in-laws, Archie Spence, Lucille Spence and Betty Jo Spence Anderson. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse Jackson Spence; son, Stephen Jackson Spence; and brothers, Finly Stephens Stanly and Thomas Jackson Stanly. Funeral services will be at Diamond Baptist Church in Rosepine on Tuesday, March 11. Burial will be at Lewis Cemetery, under the direction of Labby Memorial Funeral Home of DeRidder. Finly Stephens Stanly Finly Stephens Stanly, 91, of Leesville went home to be with the Lord on March 6, 2014. He was a descendent of an original Vernon Parish pioneer family and passed away on Belview Rd. within sight of the home where he was born. Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 10, 2014 at the First Baptist Church of Leesville. Bro. Jeff Coleman, Bro. Craig Forque and Bro. Jerry Penfield will be officiating. Burial will be in the Castor Cemetery of Leesville. Mr. Stanly was born on Aug. 13, 1922 to Major Finly and Clara Stephens Stanly. He served in the Marine Corps during WWII in the South Pacific from 1943-45. He was preceded in death by his wife, Adele Knight Stanly; his son, Wesley Finly Stanly; and brother, Thomas Jackson (Jack) Stanly. Recently deceased was his sister, Clara Grace Stanly Spence. He is survived by his daughter Brenda and her husband, Charles Bealer; grandson Michael Bealer and wife, Amanda; granddaughter Christa and husband, Faimon Roberts III; and five great- grandchildren. Arrangements by Hixson Funeral Home, Leesville. Cherie Johnson Stephens Cherie Johnson Stephens, 52, of Leesville passed away Thursday, March 13, 2014 at her residence in Leesville. Cherie, the daughter of Amos Ferrell and Carol Jean Chisam Johnson, was born Oct. 1, 1961, in Fairbanks, Alaska. She loved spending time with her family and friends and was crazy about her animals, Thibodeaux, Comeaux, Jericho Bailey, Kissie and Kitty Man. She is survived by her husband of seven years, David Stephens of Leesville; sons, Timothy Brent Kellam and Melisa Barrell of Leesville; Mark Anthony Kellam and Alicia of Anchorage, Alaska and James Williams Johnson and Charlene Johnson of Eagle River, Alaska; brother, Michael Johnson of Gulf Shores, Alabama; and grandchildren, Kaylee Kellam, Kaycee Kellam, Beaux Yager Johnson and Evelyn Johnson. Cherie was cremated per her wishes and there will be a Life Celebration held by her family at a later date. Mary L. Swain Mary L. Swain, 62, passed away Sunday, March 16, 2014 in Beauregard Memorial Hospital, DeRidder. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Labby Memorial Funeral Home, DeRidder. Janella Grace Simmons Wright Janella Grace (Nell) Simmons Wright was called home on Wednesday, March 5, 2014 with her family by her side. Services for Nell were held Saturday March 8, 2014 in the chapel of Hixson Funeral Home in Leesville. The family had Rev. Joe Cruse and Rev. Jeremy Poe to officiate the service. Honoring Nell as pallbearers were James Ward Jr., Scot Anderson, James Iturralde, Richard Ross, Duane Dixon, Jeffery Holliman, Perry Tanner and Warren Robicheaux. Nell was born Nov. 10, 1915 in Anacoco to the late William David and Lenora Dixon. She is preceded in death by her parents, William David and Lenora Dixon; her husband, Fyness J. Simmons; late husband, Leland Wright; brothers Warren Dixon, Orvan Dixon, Clarence Dixon; sisters Geneva Dixon, Norma Lea Jernigan, Lucille McAfee, and Mildred Martin. Left to cherish wonderful memories of Nell are her daughters, Katheryn Anderson of Leesville, Betty (Delmer) Holliman of Shreveport, Shirley (James) Ward of Leesville, Linda Simmons of Leesville; grandchildren, K. Scot Anderson, Jeri Lin Tanner, Beth Ann McGee, Jeffery Alan Holliman, James (Jim) Ward Jr., James (Jamie) Iturralde, Aaron Lee Iturralde; great-grandchildren James Warren Robicheaux, William David (Will) Robicheaux, Matthew Scot Robicheaux, Cara Lynn Anderson, Max Anderson, Justin R. Holliman, Emily Grace Holliman; great-great-grandchildren, Raechel Lin Robicheaux, and Jake Robicheaux.