Obituaries

Graveside services will be held for Mr. Bernard “Barney” Miller, 91, at Prospect Cemetery in Florien Saturday, October 14 at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Bo Horn officiating. Born on March 15, 1926, Barney was reared in Florien until age 10 or 11 when his family moved to Texas where he completed high school and enlisted in the U. S. Navy at age 17. He served until the end of the war and following his discharge he was employed by a contractor in California. With nothing more than a high school education, he quickly rose to a position as the company accountant and with the skills he acquired on the job, and qualified for employment with the U. S. Government. His work took him to many parts of the world on his auditing assignments. Immediately following retirement, he ran for State Representative as an outsider, but after being narrowly defeated he never again sought public office.

Funeral services for Bobbye Lou Lafitte, 85, of Many were held October 6 at First United Methodist Church Of Many with Bro. Newton “Bo” Horne officiating. Burial followed in the Many Cemetery. She was born Saturday, November 7, 1931 in Leesville, and passed away Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at her residence in Many. She was preceded in death by her husband, W. E. Lafitte, Jr.; parents, Charles and Thelma Hancock; and brother, Dr. Charles D. Hancock, Jr. She is survived by her sons, William Edward Lafitte III and wife, Becky, of Many, David Lafitte and wife, Mary, Pat of Newton, Texas, Todd Lafitte and wife, Kim, of Many, and Paul Kim Lafitte and wife, DeAnne, of Many; grandchildren, Tonia, Crystal, Bradley, Jessica, Davy, Sherry, Kally, Davin, Ryan, Tyler, Patrick, Ashley, Ethan, Britney, Courtney; 11 great grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; along with a host of friends.

David “Dave” Howard Burk, 78, of San Augustine, Texas, passed away Sunday, October 1, 2017. David was born January 10, 1939 to James Howard and Willa Dean Burk of Lawton, Oklahoma. He leaves behind his wife Sue Burk; children, Janet and husband, Danny Green, James and wife, Gaylyn Burk, Deana and husband, Mike Smith, Wesley and wife, Donna Burk, Nolan and wife, Teresa Burk, Wendy and husband, Gary Wolfe, and Lance Drake; along with his beloved grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. He will be greatly missed by so many. A Life Tribute Service was held October 7 at Skybreak Church in College Station, Texas. Graveside services were held October 8 at Aimwell Baptist Church Cemetery in Zwolle

Funeral services for David Wayne Meshell, 64, of Noble, will be held Thursday, October 12 at 12 p.m. at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Gary Byrd officiating. Burial will follow in the Pine Knot Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. at Warren Meadows Funeral Home in Many. He was born Thursday, January 1, 1953 in Many and passed away Friday, October 6, 2017 in Shreveport. He was preceded in death by his parents, J. D. Meshell and Gladys Mae Savell Meshell; and brothers, James Meshell and Roger Meshell. He is survived by his children, J. D. Meshell of Texarkana, Arkansas, Darlene Meshell of Zwolle, Lisa Meshell of Zwolle, and Taylor Meshell of Baton Rouge; step-daughter, Kim Meshell of Mississippi; step-son, Ronald Drinkard of Texarkana, Arkansas; sisters, Ruth Smith of Elm Grove, Brenda DeArmas of Picayune, Mississippi, Mary Meshell of Natchitoches, and Francis Jean of Texas; brothers, John F.

Funeral services honoring the life of Patsy Faye Lambert, 73, were held September 26 at Spring Ridge Baptist Church in Pleasant Hill. The Rev. Glenn Howard officiated and burial followed in the Spring Ridge Cemetery. She was born June 17, 1944 in New Roads to Arthur Wise and Ruth Barton Salley. She entered into rest on September 24, 2017 in the Grace Home. She was preceded in death by her mother and father; husband, Terry Lambert; brother, Jimmy C. Wise; sister Robbie D. Gaddis; and her step-dad, Joe E. Salley. She is survived by her sons, David L. Derrick and wife, Kim, and Michael Todd Derrick and wife, Jennifer all of Shreveport; sister, JoAnn Maroney and husband, Jimmy of Pleasant Hill; grandchildren, Colton T. Derrick and wife, Heidi, William H. Derrick, and Emma Rachell Derrick; and great grandchild, Charli Kait Derrick. Honoring her as pallbearers were Colton T. Derrick, William H. Derrick, Chuck Gaddis, Tommy Wise, Ricky Gaddis, Rob Gaddis, Jody Maroney, and Nick Spann.

Funeral services honoring the life of Janet Yvonne Rutherford, 45, were held September 28, 2017 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Zwolle with Father Richard Norsworthy officiating. Burial followed in the St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery in the Ebarb Community. She was born April 27, 1972 to Edward Ray Rutherford and Bessie Rena Meshell Rutherford, and entered into rest September 24, 2017 while being cared for in Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge. She was preceded in death by her father, Edward Ray Rutherford; mother, Bessie Rena Rutherford; and brothers, Sydney Rutherford and Rodney Rutherford. She is survived by Randy Sepulvado and her daughter, Melanie Dawn Sepulvado; special sister-in-law, Debbie Rutherford; and brothers, Jackie Rutherford Sr. and wife, Veralyn, Dale Rutherford, Robert Rutherford Sr. and wife, Barbara, Dennis Rutherford and Annette, and Richard Rutherford.

Arch George Stephens born April 5, 1935 in New Augusta, Mississippi passed away August 30, 2017 in Gulf Breeze, Florida. Remains were placed at Naval Air Station Pensacola Barrancas National Cemetery with a rendering of Military Funeral Honors on September 25, 2017. Arch was proud and honored to have served in the armed forces of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division and as chief of Wards 1 and 2 South Sabine Parish Volunteer Fire Department. He attended school in Lake Arthur and McNeese University in Lake Charles. He was preceded in death by his parents, Callie Bartels Stephens Scott and George D. Stephens; stepfather, Harry Scott; half brother, Harry Pat Scott; beloved wife and mother of his children, James and Renée, Lynda Joy Wincey Stephens. Left to cherish his memories are his wife of 39 years, Janet; daughter, Renée Coile and husband, Gary; son, James and wife, Tammy; stepson, Terry Hicks and wife, Kelly; six grandchildren; seven great grandchildren and many friends.

Funeral services for Gloria Elaine Rogers, 69, of Leesville will be held Friday, October 6, 2017, at 11 a.m. at New Willow Baptist Church in Leesville, with the Rev. Robert D. Walker officiating. Burial will follow in the Central Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, in Leesville, under the direction of Labby Memorial Funeral Home of Leesville. Visitation will be Friday, October 6, from 8:30a.m.-10:45 a.m. at the church. Gloria, the daughter of Arthur and Pauline Robinson Fisher, was born on June 13, 1948, in Many. She passed away Friday, September 29, 2017, in Leesville. She is survived by her husband, Cleveland “Julio” Rogers of Leesville; sons, Everette C. Fisher of Many and Thomas S. Fisher “Popa” of Leesville; daughter, Catona R. Fisher “Tootie” of Natchitoches; a host of grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren. Words of comfort may be expressed to the Rogers Family at www.labbymemorial.com

A service to celebrate the life of Mary Elizabeth Ellzey Kelley was held September 28, at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. Interment followed at Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery near Florien. Mary, a resident of Natchitoches, passed away peacefully September 23, 2017 in Houston, Texas. She was born September 5, 1954 in Natchitoches to Walter Glenn Jordan and Gloria Lambert Jordan. She was a 1971 graduate of Florien High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in history from the University of West Florida. Later she earned her Master’s in Education from Northwestern State University and then the Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Educational Leadership and Instruction which provides certified teachers advanced knowledge and skills in areas of leadership, technology, and special education. The degree is a minimum of 30-hours beyond her Master’s degree.

Funeral services for Alberto G. Luna, Jr., 71, of Zwolle were held September 22 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father Richard Norsworthy officiating. Burial followed in the Zwolle City Cemetery. He was born Wednesday, December 19, 1945 in Junction , Texas and passed away Tuesday, September 19, 2017 in Shreveport. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert Luna Sr. and Dora Luna; and sister, Lena Flores. He is survived by his sons, Alfredo Luna and wife, Carla, of Zwolle and Albert Luna III of Zwolle; daughters, Geneva Mc- Gee and husband, Martin, of Sonora, Texas and Beatrice Luna of Zwolle; sisters, Grace Garcia and husband, Joe, of Ft. Worth, Texas, Yolonda Perez and husband, Roy, of Ft.