Obituaries

Funeral services for Mrs. JoAnn Blackmon, 80, of Florien will be held on Wednesday, September 06, 2023 at 10:00 am at Alford Heights Baptist Church in Many with Rev. Wayne Chance and Bro. Marvin Leleux officiating. Burial will follow in the Florien Cemetery. Visitation will begin on Tuesday, September 05, 2023 from 5 pm until 9 pm at Alford Heights Baptist Church.

JoAnn Was born on Monday, September 18, 1942 in Zwolle to Frank and Selina Martinez Garcie. She went home to be with the Lord on Friday, September 01, 2023 at her home in Florien with her family by her side.

She grew up in Zwolle in a large family of siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins that she remained close to and loved dearly.

She started her career at Starlite Restaurant in Many and continued on to Toro Hills Restaurant and Country Club until it changed to Emerald Hills Golf Resort. Over the many years, she developed lifelong friendships with co-workers and customers.

Grace Marie Kelsey was born on May 21, 1923, in Trinidad, Colorado. From the age of six, she was raised by loving parents, John W. and Mamie Mc-Coskey on a beautiful farm outside Howard, Kansas. During her childhood, she developed her significant musical talents, singing and playing the piano and organ. After graduating from Howard High School, she worked with her father, serving as Deputy Treasurer for Elk County, Kansas. She met and corresponded with Oren Kelsey Jr. during his military service during WWII, and they married upon his return from Italy after being wounded in 1944. They remained devoted to one another for 73 years.

Services celebrating the life of Hazel Lehr will be held at Warren Meadows Funeral Home, 355 South Capitol St., Many, Louisiana, on Thursday, September 7, 2023, at 11AM officiated by Bro. Buck Furlow. Visitation for friends and family will immediately precede the service from 9-11AM at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Bayou Scie Cemetery in Zwolle.

Mrs. Lehr was born on October 13, 1945, in Many, Louisiana, to her parents, William Edward and Hazel Oree Neal Ritter. She passed away on September 1, 2023 in Zwolle. She is predeceased by her parents, her husband, Darrell Lehr; sons, Carlton Ray Lehr and Byron Edward Lehr and siblings, Mildred Ritter, Charles Ritter and Wanda Sue Peshoff. She is survived by siblings, Billie Ritter Whitfield, Michael Ritter and Kenneth Ritter, and many, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services celebrating the life of Shelly Maroney, 44, of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 3, 2023, at Spring Ridge Baptist Church, Pleasant Hill, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Bro. Glenn Howard. Interment will follow at Spring Ridge Cemetery. Visitation will be at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at Spring Ridge Baptist Church.

Shelly was born on July 30, 1979, in Shreveport, Louisiana to Jimmy and JoAnn Maroney and entered into rest on Wednesday, August 30, 2023.

Preceding Shelly in death are her maternal grandparents, Joe and Ruth Salley, and paternal grandparents, James and Kathleen Maroney.

Graveside services for Wallace Truett Arnold, 79, of Baytown, TX was held on September 9, 2023, at Little Flock Cemetery in Many, LA with his brother, Charles W Arnold officiating.

Wallace T. Arnold passed away at Houston Methodist Hospital in Baytown, TX on Sunday, August 13, 2023. He was born to the union of Rev. James Howard & Reba Busby Arnold on May 26, 1944, in Zwolle, LA. After high school, Wallace enlisted in the United States Army for several years. He worked for TEPCO in Baytown, TX for 35 years before retiring.

Growing up & even after they all left home, their dad, Wallace & 3 brothers enjoyed playing dominoes. They would play anytime they had a chance. Wallace also liked spending time with his children, grandkids & great grandkids. He also had a love for horses & loved talking about them.

In loving memory of Ruthie Carter, 78, of Many, Louisiana the wake will be held on Friday, September 15, 2023, at Jenkins Funeral Home in Many from 5 to 7 PM. The funeral will be on Saturday, September 16, 2023, at Bethel Baptist Church at 11 AM.

Born July 5, 1945, in Florien, LA to Father Florida Johnson and Mother Bernice Johnson. Ruthie was the oldest of five children. She graduated Sabine High School in 1963 and married in November of the same year to James Clarence Carter.

Funeral services for Norma Ruth Raymer Frey, 88, of Many, LA, will be held on Thursday, September 7, 2023 at 3:00 PM at Calvary Baptist Church with Bro. Cyle Clayton officiating. Visitation will begin on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at 5:00 PM at Warren Meadows Funeral Home, Many LA. Graveside services will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 11:00 AM in the Freehouse Cemetery in New Edingburg, AR.

Norma Ruth Frey was born on Saturday, January 5, 1935 in New Edinburg, AR. She passed away on Friday, September 1, 2023 at her home in Many, LA. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mack and Ruth (Carraway) Raymer; brother, Harold Raymer; sisters, Florence Clanton and Fay Black.

Norma was a member of Calvary Baptist Church where she served as Treasurer for many years. She was also District WMU secretary/treasurer and a member of the Many Lioness Club and Many Garden Club.

Funeral services for Phyllis Murdock, 90, of Zwolle, LA will be held at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Zwolle on Tuesday, September 5th at 10AM with Father Tim Hurd officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday, September 4th starting at 5PM at Warren Meadows Funeral Home also in Zwolle.

Phyllis was born on June 20th 1933 in Jeanerette, Louisiana to her parents, J.C. D’Abadie and Bessie D’Abadie. She passed away surrounded by her family on August 30, 2023. She graduated from LSU in Baton Rouge where she met the love of her life, Lloyd A. (Bucky) Murdock. She and her husband returned to Zwolle in 1959 where they raised two children, Allen and Renee.

James Rougeau, passing on August 26th, 2023.

After a hard fought battle, including multiple surgeries and subsequent infections, LTC James Louis Rougeau (Retired) had no reserves left and surrendered peacefully as he made his last PCS (Permanent Change of Station) to be with his Lord and Savior at the age of 87.

He was born on December 1st, 1935 to Leslie Elmore Rougeau and Mary Opal Francis at LuLa Lyddy’s home in Ft. Jessup community. He spent his early years – till age 6, in Many; then went with the family out to Ft. Jessup to have space to raise chickens, and ducks-for decoys (as it was legal back then!). He attended St. John’s Catholic School and Church where he served as an Alter Boy. He participated in sports and was selected to supervise the Many City Pool when it first opened, even teaching a few folks how to swim. He learned how to hunt and fish, which became favorite pastimes. He later graduated from Many High School, and Northwestern State University.

Henry Ebarb was born on July 31, 1943, in Noble, LA to his parents Henry N. and Doris Ebarb. He passed away on Tuesday, August 29 at Willis Knighton Hospital in Bossier. Fortunately, as Wayne would refer to his wife Linda, his “beautiful bride” was by his side as he went to be with the Good Lord.

After graduating from Ebarb, he enlisted in the Air Force. Upon returning home from the military, he worked in the oilfield and at the plywood mill in Florien. It was on June 13, 1969, when he married his wife, Linda Logan. He later joined the Zwolle Police Department and became the Chief of Police.

Wayne was known by so many names: Big E, Johnny Lee, John, hat man, Ray, Partner, Chief, and Ole Bud. With these names came different stories. As a husband, daddy, papaw, and friend, he was notorious in telling stories that left one laughing.