Obituaries

Funeral Services for Jimmie W. Cook, 61, of Coppell, Texas, will be held Saturday, April 21 at 1 p.m. at Warren Meadows Funeral Home in Many with the Rev. Tom Harrison officiating. Burial will follow in the Florien Cemetery. Visitation will begin on Saturday, April 21, at 11 a.m. at Warren Meadows Funeral Home in Many. He was born on Friday, January 25, 1957 in Many, and passed away on Friday, April 13, 2018 in Shreveport. He was preceded in death by his father, James R. Cook, Sr. and daughter, Chelsea Cook. He is survived by his son, Kelby B. Cook of Shreveport; mother, Nellie Hopkins Cook of Florien; sister, Gwenda C. Jones of Dover, Tennessee; brothers, Michael L. Cook and wife, Diane of Saraland, Alabama, and James R. Cook, Jr. and wife, Lisa of Shreveport; grandchildren, Destiny and Kelsey; along with nieces, nephews and a host of good friends. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.warrenmeadows.com

Funeral services celebrating the life of Allen “Tink” Ross were held April 14 at Beulah Baptist Church in Many with the Rev. Kenneth Leach officiating. “Tink” was born on January 2, 1915 to James and Eula Ross, and went to be with his Lord and Savior on April 11, 2018 at the age of 103. He was preceded in death by his parents; Willie Mae Ross, his spouse of 77 years; son, Oscar Ross; brothers, Cecil Ross, E.C. Ross and William “Bill” Ross; and sisters, Alma Edwards, Mabel Ross, Katherine Derrick, Bernice Williams and Evelyn Ross.

Bill J. “B.J.” Orchid passed away on April 11, 2018, in Port Arthur, Texas. He was born in Amity, Arkansas on September 30, 1933, he was the son of Eunice and Carl Orchid. He graduated from Clarks High School in Clarks in 1953. He was a well-known high school athlete, particularly a baseball catcher. Mr. Orchid declined an athletic scholarship to Northwestern State University and instead enlisted in September 1953 in the U.S. Army. He spent 16 months in Korea as an artilleryman and served until 1956, attaining the rank of sergeant. He also spent time in the Army Reserves. During his break between basic training and advanced infantry training in 1953 he took time to marry his high school sweetheart, Helen Small. They remained an inseparable couple for 64 years. Mr. Orchid was a devout Christian. He was ordained a Deacon in 1969 at the Alford Heights Baptist Church in Many. In Many, Mr. Orchid was active in many community organizations.

Funeral services for Michael Paul Wedgeworth, 69, of Many were held April 11 at Oak Hill Baptist Church. Burial followed in the Oak Hill Cemetery. He was born on Monday, May 31, 1948 in Many, and passed away on Monday, April 9, 2018 in Shreveport. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wiley Paul Wedgeworth and Jewell Kelly Wedgeworth; and his brother, Ricky Wedgeworth. He is survived by his wife, Diana Blanchard Wedgeworth of Many; son, Gary Thomas Jr. and wife, Paula, of Many; grandchildren, Garrett Thomas of Austin, Texas, Gabe Thomas of San Diego, California and Grace Thomas of Shreveport; sisters, Sharon Montang of Many, Charlene McCormic of Many, Phillis Greer of Many, Marsha Cormier of Many and Sonia Doucet of Many; along with a host of nieces, nephews and friends. Pallbearers were Dennis McGaha, Barry Goss, Dennis Dzieken, Ronnie Bison, Dan Haigh, Richard Martone Jr., Jerrad Bragg and Dan Cormier.

A memorial service honoring the life of Richard “Ricky” H. Evans, Sr., 71, was held April 13, at Rose-Neath’s Chapel in Mansfield with the Reverends Chucky Clark and Glenn Bezerra officiating. Ricky was born March 18, 1947, in Converse to Lillian Krousel and S.B. Evans, Sr. and entered into rest on April 11, 2018, in Converse. He lived his entire life in Converse. He was a well-known businessman in the area and a loyal family man. He was preceded in death by his parents, and B.G. Lewis. Those left behind to cherish his memory is his wife of 49 years, Rachel Evans of Converse; son, Richard H. Evans, Jr. of Shreveport; daughters, Teri Lea Evans of Austin, Texas, and Toni Ann Evans and Brad Dudley of Dallas, Texas; brother, Sidney “Sonny” Evans, Jr. and wife, Evelyn, of Natchitoches; grandchildren, Sela Hinkhouse and Samuel Hinkhouse; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives. Serving as honorary pallbearers were Sid B.

Funeral services honoring the life of Muriel Marie Royal were held April 6 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home Chapel of Many with Dr. Terry Horowitz officiating. She was born on January 17, 1930 to John Brown Mahaffey and Susan Ethel Anderson Mahaffey. She entered into rest on April 4, 2018 in Many at the age of 88. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Quinton Royal; brothers, J.C. Mahaffey, C.E. Mahaffey, and Cecil Mahaffey; and sisters, Eula Vee Cox, Imozelle Burris, and Lurlene Gabler.

Funeral services honoring the life of Mary Teresa Henderson were held April 4 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church with Father Richard Norsworthy officiating. Burial follow in the St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery in Noble/Ebarb community. She was born on April 10, 1931 in Ebarb to Beto Castillo and Lucy Procell. She entered into rest on March 30, 2018 at the age of 86. She was preceded in death by her parents and her spouse, Olin Dean Henderson.

Graveside services honoring the life of Nelda Jean Ashby were held April 7 at Hosston Cemetery in Hosston. She was born on July 28, 1943 in San Diego, California to James Virgil Manning II and Frances Dodson Manning. She entered into rest on April 2, 2018 in Shreveport at the age of 74. She was preceded in death by her parents; spouse, Francis Kenneth Ashby; and brother, James Virgil Manning III. She is survived by her sons, John R. Ashby, Sr. of Bossier City and Kevin W. Ashby and wife, Alisha, of Lake Charles; daughter, Elizabeth Harris and husband, Bill, of Noble; sisters, Virginia McLendon and husband, Lee, of San Antonio, Texas and Emma Dennis and husband, Jerry, of New Mexico; brother, John Manning and wife, Jeanette, of Houston, Texas; 12 grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren. Active Pallbearers were her grandsons.

Ida May Arabie of Fisher, was born on December 16, 1929, in Alamosa, Colorado to Lee Sheek and May Jaynes. She passed away on Thurday, March 29, 2018, in Alexandria, Louisiana at the age of 88. Ida was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She was baptized in 1941 and served faithfully for 77 years. Funeral services were held April 7 at the Kingdom Hall in Ball. Ed Quintana officiated. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur James Arabie; parents; three brothers and three sisters. She is survived by her daughters, Sandra Grady and Joyce Musquiz; sisters, Barbara McNeely, Phyllis Jackson, Thetis Souza and Donna Griffin; and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to Jehovah’s Witnesses - jw.org