Obituaries

Colonel John H. Smith, 87 of Prattville, Alabama passed away July 15, 2016 after a valiant multi-year battle with Lyme’s disease. He was the son of Herman and Eula Mae Smith, born June 5, 1929 in Zwolle. He grew up in Florien and joined the US Army in 1946 serving two years as a Paratrooper. After leaving the Army, he married Bonnie Lea Lewing in July of 1950 and worked hard to put himself through McNeese State University in Lake Charles. He graduated with a BS degree in Accounting and entered the US Air Force, working in both Air Reserve and Active-Duty Military capacities where he progressed to the rank of Colonel and Base Commander of Dobbins Air Force Base and of the 94th Combat Support Group in Marietta, Georgia, a post he held for nine years. Afterwards, he was an adviser to the Civil Air Patrol and based in Montgomery, AL. He was a man’s man; strong in presence, strong in character and someone you could always count on.

Funeral services for George Warren Woodel, 84, of Clarence, were held on August 5 at Central Baptist Church with the Reverends Cecil Boswell and Jim Freeman officiating. Burial followed in the Central Baptist Cemetery in Robeline. George Warren Woodel was born on Tuesday, February 23, 1932 in Robeline. He passed away on Wednesday, August 3, 2016 at his residence in Clarence. He was preceded in death by his mother, Truly Woodel; father, Leroy Woodel; brother, Roy Woodel; wife, Dessie Simmons Woodel; and son, Van Woodel.

Funeral services honoring the life of William Ricky Longoria, 58, were held August 3 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Zwolle with Father Timothy Hurd officiating. Burial followed at St. Joseph’s in Zwolle. Ricky was born on March 12, 1958 in Converse to James Willis Longoria and Dorothy Leone and passed away on August 1, 2016 with his family by his side. Preceding him in death was his father James Willis Longoria. He is survived by his mother, Dorothy Leone and stepfather, Jake; sister, Judy Garcia and husband, Stan; brothers, James Gilcrease and wife, Marie of Bossier, Louis Longoria and wife, Pati of Mansfield, Ray Longoria of Campti, Lester Longoria and wife, Renée, of Zwolle, and Bill Longoria and wife, Carolyn of Bunkie. Rose-Neath Funeral Home Many Chapel - (318) 256-0690

Funeral services for Bernice Garcie, 80, of Ebarb, were held on July 30 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father Tim Hurd officiating. Burial followed in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Bernice Garcie was born on Tuesday, June 9, 1936 in Zwolle. She passed away on Wednesday, July 27, 2016 at Willis Knighton Medical Center in Shreveport. She was preceded in death by her parents, Amos Parrie, Sr. and Myrtle Parrie and her husband, William Jack Garcie. She is survived by her sons, Donald Garcie and wife, Amy, of Ebarb and Joseph Benny Garcie and Marie of Ebarb; daughters, Melinda Sepulvado and husband, James of Ebarb, Barbara Sepulvado of Ebarb and Annette Ebarb and Dennis of Ebarb; sisters, Linnie Ruth Sepulvado of Zwolle and Mary J. Parrie of Austin, Texas; brother, Amos Parrie of Zwolle; 11 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren along with a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services honoring the life of Mary Lynn Bush Lester Kelly, 79, were held July 29 at First Baptist Church of Fort Jesup, with the Reverends Jerry Penfield and Merlin Liverman officiating. Burial followed in the Fort Jesup Cemetery. Mary Lynn was born April 29, 1937 in Shreveport, and died on July 26, 2016 in Baton Rouge after fighting two valiant battles against breast cancer. She was preceded in death by her parents, T.J. and Allene Bush; brother, Eugene Bush; her first husband Bill Lester; her second husband Dallas Kelly and her stepson Stuart Kelly.

Lena Reece Allbritton, 96, of Robeline, went to be with her heavenly father and loved ones early Saturday morning of July 30, 2016. She was born in Many on April 3, 1920 to Levi and Losyer Reece and was the youngest of four children. Mrs. Allbritton graduated from Many High School in 1938. After graduation, she worked in San Antonio, Texas before moving back to the Robeline area, where she met and married George Allbritton, originally of Tullos, on April 26, 1947. The couple purchased land and started a family, which was her life’s joy. Mrs. Allbritton was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Robeline, where she taught Sunday school for many years. Before her husband’s retirement, she was a strong supporter of his ministry and work at a number of churches affiliated with the Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association. She was also very active in the family’s construction and cattle businesses for most of her life. Through the years, Mrs.

Funeral services for Charles Eugene “Cotton” Dowden were held July 23 at Prewitt’s Chapel Baptist Church, in Hornbeck with the Reverends Nick Hilton and Douglas Downs officiating. Burial followed in Prewitt’s Chapel Cemetery under the direction of Jeane’s Funeral Service. Charles Eugene “Cotton” Dowden was born on September 10, 1969, in Many to Charles and Ann Behan Dowden. He passed away on July 21, 2016 in Hornbeck at the age of 46. He attended Hornbeck High School and worked as a foreman for KCS Railroad. He loved to hunt, fish, and work with taxidermy. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He was preceded in death by his son, Samuel Allen Dowden; step-son, Mikey A. Black and his grandparents.

Funeral services for Lavern Faye Parish Thomasee, 90, of Many, were held July 25 at Warren Meadows Funeral Home chapel in Many with the Reverends Ronnie Sandifer and Jim Phaup officiating. Burial followed at Aimwell Cemetery in Toledo Bend. Lavern Faye Parish Thomasee was born October 19, 1925 in Marthaville. She passed away on July 23, 2016 at her residence in Many. She is preceded in death by her husband, Frank Thomasee; parents, Cleveland Gordy Parish and Annie Elizabeth Parish and granddaughter, Allison Grace Gentry.

Joseph Willie Ham was born on Wednesday, June 10, 1936 in Natchitoches Parish. He passed away on Friday, July 22, 2016 at his residence in Many. He was preceded in death by his parents, Curtis Ham and Eva Marie Ham; sister, Doris Fay Peguet and grandson, Justin Lane Ham. He is survived by his wife, Marcella Ann Ham of Many; son, Joseph Ham, II and wife Tracie of Alexandria; daughters, Kandy Ham Fowler and husband, Dale, of Converse, Deborah Ham Peterson and husband, Bo, of Belmont, Shirley Ham Cathcart and husband, Gary, of Benton, Arkansas, Regina Cash of Holly Lake Ranch, Texas, and Marcy Ham Sepulvado and husband, Chris, of Hemphill, Texas; sisters, Barbara Ann Moore of Granger, Texas and Vera Duboise of Montgomery; brothers, Curtis Ham of Temple, Texas and Wayne Ham of Shreveport,; 15 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren; along with a host of nieces, nephews and friends and his beloved dog, Lilly.

Theodore Ensley Dove left this world on Saturday, July 9, 2016, after a brief illness while recuperating at the Northwest Louisiana War Veterans Home in Bossier City. Mr. Dove was 94 and a lifelong resident of Knobel, Clay County, Arkansas, until 2015 when he moved to Toledo Bend Lake, to live beside his nephew and spouse, Ted E. and Carolyn A. Dove. Born October 14, 1921, in Knobel, he graduated from Corning High School, Clay County, Arkansas, and obtained his college degree from Arkansas State University after returning from active duty in World War II. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942 and was eventually sent to India where he served in the China, Burma, India (CBI) theatre supplying the Nationalist Chinese in their battle against Japan. He retired from a teaching career in 1983 after 28 years in the classroom, the last 25 spent at his alma matter, Corning High School, where he was voted the most popular teacher several times.