Obituaries

Mary Kathryn Ebarb Boudreaux, 95, of Zwolle passed away peacefully on January 22, 2017 surrounded by her family. Services are being held on January 25 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Zwolle with Father Richard Norsworthy officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Kathryn’s greatest love was her family, especially her rambunctious grandchildren, and her strong catholic faith. She loved to spend time with her prayer group of special friends, which she referred to fondly as “her girls”. Kathryn loved to play bingo and mingle with friends on Monday nights. Kathryn liked to dress up and accessorize with lots of bling and red lipstick and talk, talk, talk. She enjoyed numerous things such as gardening, and having coffee and daily chats with her twin sister, Ruth. She was a member of the St. Theresa Circle, VFW, American Legion Auxiliary, and the Choctaw Apache Tribe of Ebarb.

Paulene Wedgeworth Neel Murray, 79, of Nederland, Texas passed away Thursday, January 12, 2017 at her residence. Paulene was born January 19, 1937 in Shreveport to the late Orbon Wedgeworth and Willie Mae Bass Wedgeworth. Paulene graduated from Negreet High School. She worked as a legal secretary and was a retired Title Closer from Stewart Title and Neches Title. She was a pianist for Siloam Baptist Church and 9th Avenue Baptist Church. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Nederland. Paulene is survived by her daughters, Debra Neel Fornols and husband, Frank, Jr., Paula Neel Sexton and husband, Gary, and Lora Neel Stein and husband, Joel all of Nederland, Texas; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sister, Wanda Nell Walker and husband, Elcie, of Many and numerous family and friends. Paulene was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Paul Murray and great-granddaughter, Aspyn Fornols. The funeral services were held January 14 at Siloam Baptist Church in Many.

Funeral services honoring the life of Shirley Ann Myers Golden, 73, were held January 15 at San Patricio Baptist Church in Converse with the Rev. Jimmy Price officiating. Burial followed at Paul Cemetery in Converse. Shirley was born on March 18, 1943 in Converse to Henry and Rozell Myers and passed away on January 13, 2017 in Converse. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Preceding Shirley in death were her husband, Fred Golden; parents, Henry and Rozell Myers; brothers, Jim Myers and Sonny Myers; and sister, Vera Golden. Those left behind to cherish her memory are her son, Rodney Golden and wife, Megan; daughter, Nita Burnitt and husband, Paul; sisters, Lucy Cummings and husband, Jr., Joyce Berry, and Rosie Myers; grandchildren, Chad Golden, Brooke Ebarb and husband, Josh, Carrie Golden and fiancé, Chris, Brittany Solley, Waylon Lowrie, and Elizabeth Hebert and husband, Steve; and great grandchildren, Jaxson, Tessa, Jayden and Alec.

Lillie Bright Cobb passed away on Monday, January 9, 2017 at North Oaks Hospital surrounded by her family in Hammond at the age of 78. She was born on January 6, 1939 in Winnfield to the late Charles Bright Sr. and Lillie Belle Harrison Bright. Lillie is survived by her husband, Dr. Tom Cobb; daughters, Marcia Cobb of Hammond, Daphne Galloway and husband, Richard, of Slidell, and Lydia Price and husband, Henry, of Kenner; grandson, Christopher Galloway of Slidell; sisters, Bonnie Strickland of Houma, Mary Sue Jones of Texas and Carolyn Whatley and husband, Gordon, of Deville. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Lillie Belle Bright; six brothers; and four sisters. She was a wonderful wife and mother. She loved her children and sons-in-law, grandson, and her large extended family. She was fond of singing in the church choir, which she began as a teenager. Lillie loved music and traditional church hymns.

Robert Taft “Shane” Pharris, 62, of Converse, passed away on Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at the VA Hospital in Shreveport. He was born September 7, 1954 in Beaumont, Texas to Robert Taft Pharris and Patsy Kelley Pharris. Shane was preceded in death by his parents. Shane grew up in Pasadena, Texas and served as a member of The United States Marine Corps. He is survived by his son, Robert James Pharris of Houston, Texas; brothers, Ronnie Pharris and wife, Cindy, of Clarendon, Texas, Rick Pharris and wife, Janet, of Mansfield, Randy Pharris of La Porte, Texas, and Roger Pharris and wife, Elizabeth, of Pasadena, Texas; sister, Debra Booth and husband, John of De Kalb, Texas and numerous nieces and nephews. A service of remembrance was held December 29, 2016 at the Veteran’s Cemetery in Keithville. Serving as honorary pallbearers were Robert James Pharris, Ronnie Pharris, Rick Pharris, Randy Pharris, and Roger Pharris.

A celebration of the life of Mr. Walter R. Thompson was held December 29, 2016 at the Rose-Neath Mansfield Chapel. Burial took place at Fellowship Baptist Church, in Converse. Walter Ross Thompson, 86, was born June 4, 1930 and went to be with his Lord and Savior on December 24, 2016. He retired as a mechanical engineer for J. Ray McDermott Pipeline. He loved Bluegrass music almost as much as he loved gardening. He was especially known for his five-gallon drums of tomatoes and his expression “If I can’t eat it, I won’t grow it.” He loved his church family of New Life Assembly of God. His family always had a special place in his heart, including that of his grandchildren, great grand children, and great-great grandchild of whom he had a nickname for all. Walter was preceded in death by parents, Walter Ross Thompson Sr. and Lois Hicks Craig; step-father, SL Craig; sister, Angie; son-in-law Jim Tullis; and brother-in-law Bryant Yopp.

Funeral services for Jeffery Brian Crittenden, 43, of Florien, were held December 23 at Shady Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. James Hickman officiating. Burial followed in the Pine Knott Cemetery. Jeffery Crittenden was born on Thursday, September 13, 1973 in Shreveport. He passed away on Wednesday, December 21, 2016 at Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Jane Crittenden and sister, Kellie Crittenden. He is survived by his wife, Jamie Crittenden of Florien; sons, Kalib Crittenden of Florien, Ashton Crittenden of Florien, Eric Phillips of Many, and Michael Allen Phillips of Florien; daughters, Savanna Lester of Florien and Adrienne Phillips of Florien; grandson, Braiden Crittenden of Florien; brothers, Jimmy Crittenden of Ft. Dodge, Iowa, Chris Crittenden of Odesa, Texas, Daymon Crittenden of Alvord, Texas and Bart Crittenden of Florien along with a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services honoring the life of Jimmie James Small, 85, were held December 5 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Zwolle with Father Richard Norsworthy, Father Mike Thang’wa, and Father Francis Kamall officiating. Burial followed in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Jimmie was born February 4, 1931 to Leslie Small of Many and Tula Remedies of Zwolle and went to meet the Lord on December 1, 2016 with his loving wife of 63 years, Thelma Ezernack Small, at his side. His pride and joy was his wife and the love for his church. He attended St. John’s in Many for over 30 years, then went to work at St. Ann’s in Ebarb for about 10 years. He came back to original St. Joseph. He served as usher and Eucharist Minister this entire time. In 2004 he and Thelma receive the Diocesan Medal Award. Most of his career was spent at Nehi Bottling Company, Rose-Neath Funeral Home and St. Ann’s Church.

Mrs. Phyllis Janet Davis McLaren, 71, of Atlanta passed away on Tuesday, December 13, 2016. She was born Wednesday, July 18, 1945 in Many, and she was a member of Mars Hill Baptist Church. She was an avid gardener, loved fishing and cherished her family as well as her three dogs, Coco, Macy and Honey Bunny. Mrs. McLaren was preceded in death by her parents, James H. and Marguerite Cloud Davis and son, James Paul. Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Frank McLaren; daughters, Fran Dick and husband, Tony, Susan Horne and husband, Clay and Sally McLaren; son, Bradley McLaren and wife, Kelly; sister, Patricia Longo; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held Friday December 16 at Mars Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Tony Dick officiating. Interment followed in Mars Hill Cemetery under the direction of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield.

Funeral services honoring the life of Merrlie Procell, 85, were held December 12 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father Richard Norsworthy officiating. Burial followed in St. Joseph Cemetery. Merrlie M. Procell was born June 13, 1931 in Zwolle. She passed away in her home surrounded by loved ones on Thursday, December 8, 2016. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ludry and Lucy Martinez; husband, Earnest Procell; daughter, Janice Procell; granddaughter, Shannon Wolfe and brother J.V Martinez. She is survived by her sons, Terry Procell of Zwolle, Pat Procell and wife, Jeanie, of Zwolle, Kenny and wife, Rhonda, of Zwolle, and Bruce Procell of Shreveport; grandchildren, Eric, Diana, Matthew, Jill, Trent, Trey, Nicholas, Jason, and Bryce; 8 great-grandchildren; brother J.D. Martin and sister, Dorothy Lopez. Merrlie was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church who served as choir coordinator for 32 years and a charter member of St. Helen’s Circle for 36 years.