Obituaries

Funeral services for Forest Easton Drake, 71, of San Augus-tine, Texas were held on April 3 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Many. The Reverends Gordon Simmons and O.C. Marler offici-ated. Interment followed in Aim-well Cemetery in Zwolle. Forest proudly served his country as a member of the USAF. He retired from AT&T where he worked several years as an installer.He was preceded in death by his parents, Easton and Elva Drake.Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 48 years Sue Lopez Drake; son, Lance Drake; great-grandson, Lukacey Drake; sister, Brenda Whitlow; brother, Har-lan Drake and a host of friends.Honoring him as pallbear-ers were Larry Ferguson, Charles Pilcher, Titus Blakeney, Charles “Pug” Hollie, Chuck Loggins and Doyle Lopez.Rose-Neath Funeral Home- Many

Funeral services for the Rev. Jimmie J. Townsend were held April 1 at Calvary Baptist Church in Many, with the Reverends Cyle Clayton and C. M. Kelly officiating. Burial followed at Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery in Many.The Rev. Jimmie “Jim” J. Townsend was born in Many on Wednesday, July 24 1946. He passed away Sunday eve-ning March 29 at his home in Many.Jim proudly served in the United States Navy for 24 years, retiring as a Senior Chief Petty Officer. While in the Navy, he met and married the love of his life, Joyce Fitz-Simon on July 14, 1970. The Lord blessed Jim and Joyce with two children, a son, Jimmie Joe, and a daughter, Michelle. Upon retirement, they returned to Many and their family land. For several years Jim worked for Sabine State Bank, but his great desire was to serve the Lord and his family.He was a devout member and faithful deacon at Calvary Baptist Church in Many when he was called to the preaching ministry.

Funeral services for Loy Sherman Weldon, 81, of Lone Star, Texas, were held on March 31 at Peason United Pentecostal Church with the Rev. Brooks Coburn officiat-ing. Burial followed in the Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Loy Sherman Weldon was born on Monday, June 26, 1933 in Bellwood. He passed away on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at his home in Lone Star, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Amos and Ida Weldon; brother, Amos Glen Weldon; sister, Sylvia Wel-don Walker and son, Wallace “Tidley” Weldon.

Linda Gail Downs, 74, of Fisher passed away April 1, 2015. Services were held under the direction of Warren Meadows Funeral Home at the First Bap-tist Church of Fisher on April 4. Burial followed at the First Cem-etery in Fisher.

Marjorie Tramel Ward passed away peacefully on March 29, 2015 at the age of 89.She was born in Many on April 11, 1925 to Dr. Arthur B. Tramel and Eura Smith Tramel. She graduated from Many High School and obtained her teaching degree from Louisiana Normal College. She married Ralph Ward and moved to Fayetteville, Ark. where she began her teaching career. They eventually settled in Lake Charles where she taught Civics at La Grange High School for many years. She was fondly remembered by many of her students. Upon retirement, Marjorie and her husband purchased a farm in Mittie. Some of her fondest memories were riding the tractor there and tending to her beloved cows. She then began a second career for the State of Louisiana surveying crops on local farms. She loved getting in the van with her dogs and visiting with the farmers, and she became genuinely concerned about the welfare of the farmers and their crops.

A funeral mass honoring the life of Patricia Jo Parrie, 53, of Zwolle were held on April 6 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Father Timothy Hurd officiated. Interment followed in the church cemetery. Patricia was born on July 9, 1961 in Zwolle. She entered into eternal rest on April 1, 2015 at Toledo Retirement and Rehab in Zwolle.Patricia touched the lives of many children as a day care pro-vider for many years.She was preceded in death by her parents, Toney and Pauline Parrie; sister, Shelia Miller and nephew, Joshua Miller.Left to cherish her memory are sisters, Evelyn Gentry and hus-band, William, of New Iberia and Pam Parrie of Zwolle; brother, Mi-chael Parrie and wife, Michelle, of New Iberia and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.Honoring her as pallbearers were Allison Parrie, Colby Gentry, Michael Parrie Jr., Daniel Miller, Matthew Bertrand, Alan Parrie, Toney Miller, and Austin Parrie. Honorary pallbearer were Joshua Gentry.

Thomas J. “T.J.” McCormick of League City, Texas, 89, beloved husband, father, grand-father, and great-grandfather passed away the morning of March 19, 2015. T.J. was born in Gandy, Louisiana on March 18, 1926. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II, having served on the USS Bismarck Sea; the last aircraft carrier sunk in WWII by Japanese suicide bombers in which over 360 of his shipmates were killed. T.J. received degrees from Sam Houston State Univer-sity and the University of Hous-ton. He worked for Old Houston Press in the 1950’s, taught for 15 years in Galena Park ISD and taught for 10 years at Panola Col-lege in Carthage, Texas. T.J. was a loyal member of Friendswood Golf. Survivors include daughters, Sherry Duhon and husband, Chester, of Austin, Texas, and Mindy Armstrong and husband, Rick, of Magnolia, Texas; grand-children, Mike McGee of Austin, Texas and Jacy Armstrong of Magnolia, Texas; brother, R.D.

Nora Elizabeth Mason (Bil-lie) Sanders, 87, was born on April 27, 1927 and entered into rest on March 24, 2015 at Sabine Retirement and Rehabilitation Center in Many. She was a home-maker and resided in Shreveport for the majority of her life until illness caused her to relocate. Services were held on March 28 at Rose-Neath Marshall Street Funeral Home in Shreveport with Bro. Kent Rhoads officiating. Interment followed at Cen-turies Memorial Park Cemetery.She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Lot-tie Mason; husband, Curtis B. Sanders; daughter, Mary Alice Champion; grandsons, Danny Killian, James (Juno) A. Killian Jr., and Thomas Bailey Killian; great-grandson, James (Trey) A.