Obituaries

Funeral services for Debbie Longoria Oxley, 57, of Many were held June 22 at Warren Meadows Funeral Home in Zwolle with the Rev. Dean Johnson officiating. Burial followed in the St. Joseph Cemetery.

Betty Ruth Jordan, 85, of Lake Charles, passed away in her residence on June 19, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on September 3, 1931 in Many to John and Annie O’Banion Murphy.Betty was a member of Trinity Baptist Church where she belonged to the greatest and most loving Sunday school class. After receiving her B.A. and Master’s Degree from McNeese, she was a lifelong educator in the Calcasieu Parish School system. Her career brought her great joy and fulfillment as well as blessing her with many, many lifetime friends and associates.Betty’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren will never forget how she made life fun and how she made wonderful memories with them, which they will never forget. Her children are forever thankful for the morals and values she instilled in them and for the fact that she gave them a solid foundation by bringing them to church.She was preceded in death by her parents and her loving husband, H.

Funeral services honoring the life of Georgina Meshell, 70, of Zwolle were held June 19 at the United Pentecostal Church in Zwolle with Bro. Phillip North of-ficiating. Burial followed at the Zwolle Cemetery. She was born January 28, 1974 to George and Roberta Rook and entered into rest on June 17, 2017. She was a loving mother, sister, and grandmother. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gerald Wayne Meshell, Sr.; daughter, Rebecca Coker; and sister, Ginger Rook. Those left behind to cherish her memory are her sons, Gerald Meshell, Jr. of Austin, Texas, and Patrick Meshell, Sr. of Zwolle; daughter, Roberta Renee Ebarb of Ebarb; sisters, Kathy Bybee of Kansas City, Kansas, Theresa Stevens of Amarillo, Texas, and Nela Rook of Amarillo, Texas; brothers, George Rook Jr. of League, Texas, and Kevin Rook of Gainesville, Texas; three grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Funeral services for Verna Ruth Reeves were held June 10 at Lakeside Baptist Church in Negreet. Brother Bill Craft offici-ated. Internment followed in the Lakeside Baptist Church Cem-etery. She was born December 24, 1940 in Texas and went to be with the Lord on June 7, 2017 while being cared for by her son and daughter-in-law in Starks. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kirby Joy Reeves Sr. and daughter, Janice Hebert. Those left behind to cherish her memory are her sons, Kirby Joy Reeves Jr. and Ira Robin Reeves; daughters, Carolyn Ruth Savy and Leah Inez Spell; sis-ter, Sheila Faye Disotell; broth-er, Ulys Thurman Harper; and many grandchildren, friends, and realitves.

Funeral services honoring the life of Mason Storm Rivers, 2 years old of Noble, were held June 19 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Zwolle with Father Richard Norsworthy officiating. Burial followed at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. He was born on November 3, 2014 and entered into rest on June 16, 2017. He was preceded in death by his uncle, Shaun Rivers; great grandfathers, Cecil F. Craig and Jimmy Ray Sepulvado; and great-great grandfathers, Eugene Garcia and Reese Rivers. Those left behind to cherish his memory are his mother, Christina Rivers; father, Colby Malmay; grandparents, Roger and Rita Rivers, and Huey and Lela Malmay; aunts, Whitney Procell and husband, Ty-ler, Lilly Rivers, and Paisleigh Rivers; uncles, Hunter Malmay, Logan Malmay, and Landon Malmay; great grandparents, Juanna Craig, Al-len and Rachel Rivers, and Melanie and Frankie Rivers; cousin, Brock Procell; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Funeral services for Keith Brockton Etheridge of Zwolle were held June 8 at the Rose-Neath Fu-neral Chapel in Many with Brother Jimmy Price officiating. Interment followed in the Lakeview Baptist Church Cemetery in the Ebarb Community.He was born on October 10, 1959 in Converse and went to be with the Lord on Sunday, June 4, 2017 while working at home.He was preceded in death by his parents, Vance and Victoria Ezernack Etheridge; and brothers, Tenan Etheridge, Nolan Wayne Etheridge and Clifford Etheridge.He is survived by his wife, Martha Ann Parrie Etheridge; son, Phillip Etheridge and fiancée, Misty Paddie; daughters, Candice Stew-art and husband, John, Tetra Washington and husband, Damion, and Manda Rivers; brothers, Randy Etheridge, Herman Etheridge, and Joseph Etheridge; and sisters, Florence Schulgen, Sue Eunson, Jane Etheridge, Dorothy King, JoAnn McCormick, and Elizabeth Ramsey.

Bertha Champion Foster, 92, of Zwolle passed peacefully from this life on June 5, 2017. She was born February 25, 1925. She was a light in her com-munity throughout her life, al-ways willing to extend a listening ear and a warm hug. Her faith in God was inspiring to all around her. Bertha enjoyed gardening, painting, quilting, and cook-ing. Her accomplishments were many, but her greatest achieve-ment was her family; her three sons, Bo, Jerry, and David and their families were her world. She was preceded in death by a host of relatives, including her parents, siblings, and two sons, Bo and Jerry Champion. Those left behind to cherish her memory are her son, David; sis-ter, Joyce; many grandchildren and great grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. “Softly in the morning, you heard a gentle call, you took the hand God offered you, and quietly left us all.”

Funeral services honoring the life of William “Will” Jones Burkett, 80, were held June 19 at Fellowship Baptist Church with burial following at Oak Grove community, near Converse. The Reverends Jimmy Dan Lilley and Jim Tennery officiated. He was born on November 23, 1936 to Eddie William and Annie Belle Burkett and entered into rest on June 16, 2017. Will is remembered as a lov-ing husband, father, grandfather, and friend in the community where he grew up. During life, Will served his church, his nation, and his family to set an example for others. He enjoyed working the land alongside his wife Annie Jane, while for pleasure they trav-eled together many roads across the United States. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, Er-nest.Those left behind to cherish his memory are wife, Annie Jane; daughter, Cathy Singletary and husband, Tim, and Carla Watson and husband, Tommy; son the Rev.

Funeral services for Dr. Hollis R. Bray, 80, of Many were held June 14 at First Baptist Church of Many with Dr. Joe Ratcliff and the Rev. Jonathon Bost officiating. Burial followed in the Many Cemetery. He was born on Wednes-day, November 18, 1936 in Converse and passed away Sunday, June 11, 2017 at Sa-bine Retirement & Rehabilita-tion Center in Many. Dr. Bray practiced dentistry in Many for over 47 years.He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Barba-ra Bray; parents, James Reece Bray and Amanda Tomkins Bray; and one brother. He is survived by his sons, James Paul Bray and wife, Stacie, of Negreet and Brian R. Bray and wife, Abby, of Hixson, Tennessee; grand-children, Dr. Amanda Bray of College Station, Texas, Dr. Jacob Bray and wife, Mary Kate, of Charlottesville, Vir-ginia, Lauren Bray of Hixson, Tennessee, and Madelyn Bray of Baton Rouge; along with a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

A celebration of the life of Deborah “Deb” Kay Byrd, 59, of Florien was held June 19 in the Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel in Many. The Rev. Daniel Lowe officiated with burial to fol-low in the Mt. Carmel Cemetery.Following a brave battle with cancer, Deb went home to her Lord on Thursday, June 15, 2017, at her home in Florien, surrounded by her much beloved family, along with her “furry child,” Baby. She was born on October 16, 1957 in Ponca City, Oklahoma to Jack W. Ingram, Sr. and Mildred Malzahn Ingram. She was one of three children, along with brothers, Jack W. Ingram, Jr. and Richard In-gram. The family settled in Odessa, Texas where she met her future hus-band, Benny “Red” Byrd, of Florien in 1972. The couple married October 16, 1973 and moved to Florien in 1988.Deb and Red are the proud parents of son, Jeremiah, and were al-ways seen at his Many High School football games, cheering him on.