Obituaries

Linda Rozann Brown was born on Friday, January 28, 1944 in Many, and passed away on Sunday, April 22, 2018 in Many. She was preceded in death by her parents, Earlis Truett Brown and Opal Addie Ellzey Brown. She is survived by her sister, Thelma Early and husband, Tommy, of Belmont; nieces, Joy DeWeese of Belmont and Kim Marsh and husband, Edward, of Waxahachie, Texas; along with a host of cousins and friends. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.warrenmeadows.com

Funeral services celebrating the life of Dorothy Bedell Taylor were held April 28 at Bayou Scie United Methodist Church in Zwolle with the Rev. Jim Phaup officiating. She was born on April 20, 1930 to Bailey Bedell and Mae Marr Pruitt. She went to be with her Lord and Savior on April 26, 2018 at the age of 88. She is preceded in death by her parents, and her spouse of 44 years, Jewel Taylor. She is survived by her son, Wade Lynwood Taylor of Zwolle; sister, Francis Hayes of Zwolle; grandchildren, Jonathan Taylor and wife, Brooke, of West Monroe, Stephen Taylor and wife, Sue Ann, of Zwolle, and Amanda Martinez and husband, Danny, of Zwolle; and great-grandchildren, McKenna Taylor, Ryland Taylor, Jackson Taylor, and Aleah Taylor all of West Monroe. Honoring her as pallbearers were Stephen Taylor, Jonathan Taylor, Ryland Taylor, Danny Martinez, David Wilson, and Travis Wilson.

Funeral services celebrating the life of Esther Lena Procell were held on May 4 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Zwolle with Father Richard Norsworthy officiating. Interment followed in St. Catherine’s Catholic Cemetery of Noble. She was born on February 27, 1924 to Thomas and Ella Paddie Manshack, and went to be with her Lord and Savior on May 1, 2018 at the blessed age of 94. She was preceded in death by her parents; spouse, Monroe Procell; and grandchildren, Tammy Normand and Tucker Procell. She is survived by her daughters, Susie Bonds and Marilyn Chance of Noble; 22 grandchildren; and great grandchildren. Honoring her as pallbearers were Lemoine Chance, Yancy Normand, Zachery Lopez, Chris Chance, Myle Craig and Jason Procell. Honorary pallbearers were Treyton Ezernack, Jericho Manshack, Trendon Procell, Jacob Ezernack, and Jacque Kidd.

Billy Sikes, 87, of Many was born to Ella Belle Payne and A.G. Sikes on July 2, 1930. Bill entered into a peaceful rest on May 4, 2018 after fighting with heart, cancer and kidney problems since December 1996. “I have fought the food fight. I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” He was preceded in death by his parents, A.G. Sikes and Ella Belle Roswell; sister, Linda Hale; and grandson, Billy Ray. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 57 years, Peggy Sikes; son, Richard Pearson and wife, Marian; special great grandson, Elijah; granddaughter, Kimberly; grandson, Tristan; and numerous relatives and friends in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi, some of those he dearly loved. A special thanks to Doctors V. Pokala, M. Dhawan, and J. Corley. Also the people that took care of him in 2017 and 2018 at Sabine Retirement in Many, and special neighbors.

Funeral services honoring the life of a true cowboy, Benton Middleton Johnson, 74, were held May 8 at First Baptist Church in Pleasant Hill with the Rev. Dean Johnson officiating with the Rev. Lynn Burkett assisting. Burial followed at Spring Ridge Cemetery in Pleasant Hill. Benton was born October 25, 1943, in Pleasant Hill to Robert Melvin Johnson and Betty Lois Middleton Johnson. He passed away on May 4, 2018, at his home surrounded by his family. Benton Johnson, also known as “Pa,” “Pa Benton,” or “Uncle Benton” was one of the best cattlemen and horsemen to ever live. The young farmer and rancher got his start in 4-H and FFA raising show calves and show pigs then started raising horses. After graduating from Pleasant Hill High School in 1961, he went into farming full time. In 1961, Johnson won the State Livestock Farming Award and was also elected vice-president of the State FFA Organization. In May of 1969 he made his first large purchase and went into the dairy operation.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Jack Lynn Hubley on May 7 in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Many, with the Rev. Chad Partain officiating the service. Interment followed in St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery. Jack, 89 of Alexandria, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, in his residence with his family by his side. He was born in Many and graduated from Many High School where he met Patsy Peterson Hubley. They were married in Alexandria and remained married for 66 years when Patsy passed away in 2016. Jack was a dedicated employee at The Alexandria Daily Town Talk for 45 years and retired as the superintendent of the composing room. He was instrumental in bringing The Town Talk from a hand set newspaper into the computer age. He enjoyed fishing and hunting on family land. He will be remembered most for his love for Christ, family and friends.

Funeral services celebrating the life of Dorothy Bedell Taylor were held April 28 at Bayou Scie United Methodist Church in Zwolle with the Rev. Jim Phaup officiating. She was born on April 20, 1930 to Bailey Bedell and Mae Marr Pruitt. She went to be with her Lord and Savior on April 26, 2018 at the age of 88. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her spouse of 44 years, Jewel Taylor. She is survived by her son, Wade Lynwood Taylor of Zwolle; sister, Francis Hayes of Zwolle; grandchildren, Jonathan Taylor and wife, Brooke, of West Monroe, Stephen Taylor and wife, Sue Ann, of Zwolle, and Amanda Martinez and husband, Danny, of Zwolle; and great-grandchildren, McKenna Taylor, Ryland Taylor, Jackson Taylor, and Aleah Taylor all of West Monroe. Honoring her as pallbearers were Stephen Taylor, Jonathan Taylor, Ryland Taylor, Danny Martinez, David Wilson, and Travis Wilson.

Linda Rozann Brown was born on Friday, January 28, 1944 in Many, and passed away on Sunday, April 22, 2018 in Many. She was preceded in death by her parents, Earlis Truett Brown and Opal Addie Ellzey Brown. She is survived by her sister, Thelma Early and husband, Tommy, of Belmont; nieces, Joy DeWeese of Belmont and Kim Marsh and husband, Edward, of Waxahachie, Texas; along with a host of cousins and friends. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.warrenmeadows. com

Paul Vernon Baker, 94, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at Christus Grace Home in Shreveport after a short illness. He was born September 16, 1923 in Labette, Kansas. Funeral services were held April 20 at Aimwell Baptist Church in Zwolle.

Funeral services for Harold Douglas Tilley Sr., 81, of Many were held April 18 at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dean Crittenden officiating. Burial followed in the Louisiana Veterans Cemetery in Leesville. He was born Sunday, August 2, 1936 in Plainview, Texas, and passed away Saturday, April 14, 2018 in Many.