Raymond Anthony Remedes

Raymond Anthony Remedes, 76, entered peacefully into the loving hands of our Lord on Wednesday, March 14, 2018. A Mass of Christian Burial was held March 17 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Zwolle with Father Richard Norsworthy and Father Mike Thang’wa officiating. Interment followed at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery with military honors. The life of Raymond Anthony Remedes began on June 9, 1941. He was the youngest of twelve children born to Joe and Elidia Remedes of Zwolle. He grew up in Zwolle attending St. Joseph’s Catholic School for six years and Zwolle High School for six years, where he graduated in 1959. He started working in the woods at the age of 13 cutting pulpwood and making ties for his father. He continued with various jobs in the woods until his graduation where he then was drafted into the Army. Upon his discharge from the army he then went to work for Sabine Lumber Company. He went on to train as a Logging Superintendent and he held this position until Boise took over Sabine Lumber Company. He was the assistant to the district manager at Boise and he held this position until October of 1973. On October 15, 1973, he took a job with Willamette Industries as the Logging Superintendent and in May of 1980 he was promoted to Logging Manager. In this position, he was in charge of all logging jobs that the company produced. He worked there until Weyerhaeuser purchased this location in 2002. With the new company his job was that of Contract Administrator where he supervised logging jobs. He stayed in this capacity until he was forced by his health to take a medical retirement in November 2003. Mr. Remedes took great pride in his work, but was completely devoted to his family. He married Barbara Gatheright on February 4, 1967 and they had two daughters: Tina and Staci. He would soon find out that his favorite job was being a Popa to seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. In his spare time Mr. Remedes was a very active member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Zwolle where he was a Eucharistic Minister and an usher. He was a Tamale Fiesta board member for three years and was the first president of the Zwolle Loggers and Forestry Festival. He was a member of the Louisiana Forestry Association and the Piney Woods Forestry Group. Loved ones that greeted him in heaven are his parents; sisters, Irene Minch, Angie Minch, Elvie Ebarb, Verna Garcie, and Selena Ebarb; and brothers, Johnny, Herman ‘Bud’, and James ‘Shorty’. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 51 years, Barbara Gatheright Remedes; daughters, Tina Starks and husband, Marty, and Staci Anderson; grandchildren, Misty Junkin and husband, Will, Kyle Remedes and Joe Droege, Chanse Malmay and fiancée Madalyn, Larisa Malmay and Josh Parrie, Masen Starks, Brandon Starks and Heather, Courtney Fountain and Corey; great-grandchildren, Kelton, Kaden, Adelyn, Cambree, Riley and Wes; sister, Lillie Coleman; brothers, George “Junior” and wife, Wanda, and Chester and wife, Judy; sisters-in-law, Sue Lovitt and husband, Mark, and Debbie Britt; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends are left to treasure his memory. Honoring as pallbearers were Chanse Malmay, Johnny Ebarb, Joe Ebarb, Mike Huckaby, Jim Huckaby, and Todd Remedes. Honorary pallbearers were Kyle Remedes, Kelton Sepulvado, Masen Starks, and Kaden Sepulvado. The family would like to send a heartfelt thank you to the staff of Harmony Home Health, Hospice of Natchitoches, and Dr. Saidan for all the loving care shown to our loved one. A special thank you goes out to Buddy Gillis and the staff at Labby Funeral Home. The love and compassion you’ve always shown to us is what’s helped us to make this heartbreaking time a little more bearable. A man that loved God. A man of few words, but all listened. A man that put others’ needs before his own. A man that had immeasurable strength. A man that fought until his last breath. A man that is greatly loved and will be missed every single day. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Father David T Richter Foundation, 3500 Fairfield Ave., Shreveport, LA, 71104. Words of comfort may be expressed to the Remedes Family at www.labbymemorial.com