Obituaries

Funeral services for Harold Lamar Santos, Sr., 67, of Anacoco were held April 7 at the Labby Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Leesville. Burial followed in the Good Hope Cemetery, under the direction of Labby Memorial Funeral Home of Leesville. Harold, son of Pete Lester and Willie Mae Ebarb Santos was born on January 21, 1950, in Noble. He passed away on Thursday, March 30, 2017, in Leesville. Mr. Santos loved to hunt, fish, to be outside and gardening. He worked for 16 years at the Vernon Parish Sherriff’s Office as a Deputy and worked many years as a truck driver. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Doug Santos and Wilford Santos. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Linda Santos of Anacoco; children, Lisa and husband, David Dease, of Burr Ferry, Melissa Greifzu of Leesville and Harold L. Santos Jr.

Funeral services for Joey Dale Skinner, 58, of Belmont, were held March 23 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with Father Mike Thang’wa officiating. Burial followed in the St. Joseph Cemetery in Zwolle. He was born on Tuesday, July 8, 1958 in Pleasant Hill and passed away on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in Belmont. He was preceded in death by his wife, Darcia Skinner; father, Don Skinner; and uncle, Wayne Procell. He is survived by his daughters, Jessica Dawn Golden and husband, Joey, of Frierson and Jenna Calhoun and husband, Tim, of Converse; mother, Betty Skinner of Belmont; brother, Jody Skinner of Belmont; grandsons, Ezra Eli Calhoun of Converse, Jacob Anthony Calhoun of Converse, Kolton Martinez of Frierson, Chaz Martinez of Frierson, and Luca Golden of Frierson; special aunt, Boney Mavis Stephens and family of Belmont; uncles, Maurice Procell of Many and Dale Skinner of Belmont; special cousin, Sherry Amber and husband, Dennis, of Texas; along with a host of friends.

Funeral services for Mrs. Virginia Carol Meshell Gatti, 67, of Many were held April 7 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with Father Mike Thang’wa officiating. Burial followed in the Spring Ridge Cemetery. She was born on July 28, 1949 in Many and passed away on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at Sabine Retirement in Many. Virginia devoted her life to educating the youth of Sabine Parish. She viewed her teaching career as a calling and enjoyed the time she spent in the education system. As a fifth grade teacher, she watched Zwolle Intermediate students grow into men and women over 20 years. Over those years, she shared joy with students by way of graduations, marriages, children, and dream jobs. She was so thrilled anytime she heard a great story about a former student. In those years, she also shed tears over the lives of her students.

Funeral services for Henry Morgan Thomas, 78, of Many, were held April 6 at First United Methodist Church of Many. Burial followed in the Many Cemetery. He was born February 13, 1939, in Camden-Fairview, Arkansas, to Henry Cornelius Thomas and Alta Berry Thomas. He passed away April 1, 2017. He graduated from Neville High School in Monroe in 1957. While at Neville, he was active in athletics. Henry graduated from Louisiana Tech in 1962 with a degree in Forestry. He retired from Georgia Pacific Corporation as Lumber Operations Manager of its Central and Eastern Operations. While employed with Georgia Pacific, he was a pioneer in the field of high-speed small log manufacturing. He served on the Executive Board of Southern Pine Inspection Bureau, he was a member of the Board of Directors of the AD&N Railroad and First State Bank of Crossett, Arkansas. Mr.

A memorial service for Mrs. Rose Dartez was held April 9 at Grand Ecore Baptist Church in Natchitoches, with Bro. Wayne Hicks officiating. She passed away in Natchitoches on March 30, 2017 at the age of 73. She was born in Sabine Parish on November 28, 1943, and grew up along Hwy 6 in between Robeline and Many. After high school, she initially worked as a telephone operator for AT&T. She was a kind and caring person who eventually made it her profession to take care of others. She attended Northwestern State University and earned her LPN degree. She worked for several years at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center where her sweet and compassionate personality was felt by all those she worked with. She is survived by her husband, Joseph C. Dartez; son, Bradley Tarpley; daughter, Mona Berry; and two sisters, Dorothy Wheeler and Alice Parker. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Irene Mitchell Allbritton; five brothers; three sisters; and first husband.

Funeral services honoring the life of Christopher Morgan Meshell were held April 7 at United Methodist Church in Zwolle with Pastor Wade Penfield officiating. Burial followed at Oxford Cemetery in DeSoto Parish. He was born December 14, 1977 in Shreveport to David Meshell and Pam Patton Meshell. Preceding him in death were his grandfathers, Emmett Meshell and John Patton Sr.; cousin, Chad Meshell; nephew, Clay Meshell; and uncle, Dewayne Meshell. He is survived by his wife, Jana Meshell; daughter, Haley Lewis and husband, John Brian; son and namesake, Morgan Meshell Jr. and wife, Chasate; precious babies, Haven, Emma and Hinley Jane; father, David R. Meshell; mother, Pamela Patton; paternal grandmother, Iva Lee Meshell; and maternal grandmother, Lady Jane Patton.

Funeral services for Dale “Halfbreed” Lee Haire, 59, of Pleasant Hill were held March 31 at Old Pisgah Baptist Church with the Rev. Dean Johnson officiating. Burial followed in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery. He was born on Monday, July 15, 1957 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and passed away on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at Sabine Retirement & Rehabilitation Center in Many. Dale was a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians. He was preceded in death by his parents, Larry Haire and Margaret Conner Habour. He is survived by his wife, Pat Haire of Pleasant Hill; children, Dale Lee Harie, II of Belmont, Amber Anne Haire of Pleasant Hill, and Jason Wade Callens of Zwolle; sister, Patsy Tarver of Port Allen; brother, Wayne Haire of Coushatta; grandchildren, Terry Rivers, Kyla Rivers, Daisy Rivers, Makenzie Haire, Zoey Raborn, Harleigh Callens, and Jason Wade Callens, II; along with a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services for Rena Faye Cupples, 73, of Many, were held April 3 at Oak Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Mike Henderson officiating. Burial followed in the Oak Hill Cemetery. She was born on Monday August 9, 1943 in Sabine Parish and passed away on Friday, March 31, 2017 at her residence in Many. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob Cupples; daughter, Tonya Rainer; and parents, Max C. Nichols and Violet Randolph Nichols. She is survived by her sister, Maxine Nichols Lidbetter and husband, Mike, of Many; son-inlaw, Leslie Rainer of Many; along with a host of nieces, nephews and friends. Pallbearers were Bob Kanatzar, Phillip Frachiseur, Leslie Rainer, Justin Grayson, Marty Carver, and Derrick Small. Honorary pallbearers were Billy Guay, Mike Lidbetter, Rufus Kelly, and Bo Barber. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.warrenmeadows.com

Funeral services for Joey Dale Skinner, 58, of Belmont, were held March 23 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with Father Mike Thang’wa officiating. Burial followed in the St. Joseph Cemetery in Zwolle. He was born on Tuesday, July 8, 1958 in Pleasant Hill and passed away on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in Belmont. He was preceded in death by his wife, Darcia Skinner; father, Don Skinner; and uncle, Wayne Procell. He is survived by his daughters, Jessica Dawn Golden and husband, Joey, of Frierson and Jenna Calhoun and husband, Tim, of Converse; mother, Betty Skinner of Belmont; brother, Jody Skinner of Belmont; grandsons, Ezra Eli Calhoun of Converse, Jacob Anthony Calhoun of Converse, Kolton Martinez of Frierson, Chaz Martinez of Frierson, and Luca Golden of Frierson; special aunt, Boney Mavis Stephens and family of Belmont; uncles, Maurice Procell of Many and Dale Skinner of Belmont; special cousin, Sherry Amber and husband, Dennis, of Texas; along with a host of friends.

Funeral services for Leslie Wayne Lites, 84, of Many were held March 29 at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jonathon Bost officiating. Burial followed in the Many Cemetery. He was born on Tuesday, May 17, 1932 in Many and passed away on Monday, March 27, 2017 at Sabine Retirement in Many. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leslie Lites and Ruby Dew Lites. He is survived by his wife, Cecile W. Lites of Many; daughter, Ellen Elizabeth Lites of Many; son, Scott Lites and wife, Donna, of Many; grandsons, Ryan Rousseau, Eric Rousseau and Gage Lites; sister, Margaret Kay Connelly of Cassadaga, New York; brother, Ralph Dean Lites of Louisiana; along with a host of friends. Pallbearers were Gage Lites, Eric Rousseau, Shane Wright, Brad Wright, Mike Nichols, and Dean Lambert. Honorary pallbearers were Oscar Alford, Alfice Brumley, Bob Brown, Gailor Phares, Glenn Owers, Bill Andries, J. C. Andries, Charles Maines, Randy Walsworth, and Don Burkett.