Raymond L. “Mr. Raymond” Ebarb
Mr. Raymond L. “Mr. Raymond” Ebarb of Ebarb passed away on October 30, 2023 in Natchitoches after a brief illness. Funeral service will be held on November 3, 2023 at St. Anns Catholic Church in the Ebarb at 10:00 AM with Fr. Tim Hurd officiating. Burial to follow at St Ann’s Cemetery.
“Mr. Raymond” was born on March 31, 1931 in Shreveport, Louisiana to Emmitt and Eva (Laroux) Ebarb. He was preceded in death by his parents and his maternal grandparents, Teofilo and Josephine (Ezernack) Laroux.
Growing in up on a small cattle farm during the Great Depression and World War II, he was taught a hard work ethic from an early age by his father and a love of learning from his mother who was an elementary school teacher. He graduated from Ebarb High and obtained his Bachelor of Science degree with emphasis on Agriculture Education from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL) and shortly after graduating enlisted in the US Army and was honorably discharged after 2 years of service during the Korean War.
After discharge he started his teaching career at Ebarb Elementary and transitioned to his love of agriculture when an opening for a new vocation agriculture/ shop instructor at Ebarb High became available. During his time as shop instructor, he had numerous students win top state awards in Welding/ Shop. As the sponsor of the school’s chapter of the FFA (Future Farmers of America), his teams won many awards for parliamentary procedure and public speaking.
During the summer months he attended the University of Arkansas and obtained his Master’s degree and also Penn State University and Oklahoma State University for his Master’s +30. He not only was the Agriculture instructor but also taught American history and night school for adults students studying for their GED. He even found time to fill in as boys’ basketball coach taking the team to the state finals in 1969.
After teaching for 28 years at Ebarb High, he retired the first time to spend time raising cattle and horses on his farm. He was always a familiar sight around the community wearing his cowboy hat and greeting every one with “hello babe”. Always interested in community affairs, he helped obtain state recognition for the Apache/Choctaw Tribe of Ebarb and was appointed its first Tribal Chief. He also helped to acquire federal funding to establish the Ebarb Water Works District.
Always a person to make education a top priority, he became principal at Westwood Academy in Marthaville and was also a member of the Sabine Parish School Board. Coming out of his second retirement he filled in for half a year as assistant principal at Ebarb High while the principal took an educational leave.
“Mr. Raymond” was a larger-than-life person who had a tremendous Catholic faith and a love of community and country. A life-long member of the Ebarb Community, St. Ann’s Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus, he was well known for his generosity and willing to help anyone in need or just to put a smile on someone face.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife on 67 years, Joan (Emanus) Ebarb, one son Pedro Ebarb and wife Linda, two step-grandchildren, Jeff Hillis of Edmonton, Canada, and Lisa Radford of Montreal, Canada, brother in laws, Harold “Harry” Emanus of Houston, Texas, Edward “Eddy” Emanus of Memphis, Tennessee, and a host of nieces and nephews. Special friends, Frank Maranto (Felicia), Lloyd Garner, and very special friend, Sandy Wells.
Honoring him as pallbearers will be, Victor Sepulvado, Walter “Tootsie Roll” Meshell, Tom Rivers, Klotz Ebarb, Chris Rivers, and Greg Procell. Honorary pallbearers are Lynn Montgomery, Billy Pickett, John Sandal, “Sonny” Miller, Benny Knippers, Donald Garcia and Harold Stewart.
The family wants to thank Drs. Holder and Samudia and the Emergency Room Staff at Sabine Medical Center and Drs. Botnick, Ajise, and Henderson and the ICU Staff at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Ebarb or to St. Vincent DePaul Charity.
