Obituaries

Mark Holcomb, 64, of Many Louisiana passed away Tuesday, January 16, 2024. Mark was born January 29, 1959, to parents William and Ramona Holcomb.

He worked for Calcasieu Ambulances as a paramedic and dispatcher. He also worked for the Ward 1 Fire Department on Engine 3 selflessly serving the Moss Bluff area. He belonged to the Masonic Lodge Sam Todd N. 182. He had his American Radio Relay League License and had a passion for the Ham Radio where his handle was KE5HSW.

Those left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Kalene Holcomb, Marlene Holcomb (Brandon) and Julie Trejo (Sergio); son, Travis Pitre (Jessica); stepdaughters, Antoinette Nelson (Brandon) and Rachelle Harper (Samuel); mother, Ramona Minyard Holcomb; grandchildren, Kaileianna (JT), Skylar, Brandon, Austin, Raelynn, and Rhett; great grandchild, Grayson; sisters, Karen Turner (Michael) and Rhonda Harb, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Mighty Oak of a man, Charles “Larry” Lee, fought his last valiant fight in the early morning hours of January 23, 2024. He fought hard to stay and protect his wife of 60 years Mary Helen (Brown) Lee of Many, LA, whom he loved with a passion. He also leaves behind a son, Richard Lee and wife Becky, of Lake Charles, LA, a daughter, Sarah Lee Flowers and husband Bruce, of Many, LA, a sister, Susan McComic and husband Ray, of Florien, LA, a brother Lynn Lee and wife Joyce of Leesville, LA, a special ex-sister-in-law, Debra Harrington of Antioch, CA, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services for Alwin M. Craig, 78, of Florien, LA, will be held on Sunday, January 14, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Gandy Baptist Church with Rev. Wayne Chance and Rev. Buddy Airhart officiating. Burial will follow in the Gandy Cemetery. Visitation will begin on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at 5:00 PM at Warren Meadows Funeral Home, Many LA.

Alwin M. Craig was born on Sunday, March 25, 1945 in Florien, LA. She passed away on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at her residence in Florien, LA. She was preceded in death by her husband, Olan Dean Craig; parents, William “Bill” Mahaffey and Emily Celeste Mahaffey; brother, Billy Mahaffey; and her sisters, Natalie Doyle and Mary Ochiltree.

Funeral services celebrating the life of Dalton Stevens will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at Blue Ridge Methodist Church, 3500 Hwy 175, Pleasant Hill, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Bro. Glen Howard. Interment will follow at Spring Ridge Cemetery, Pleasant Hill, Louisiana. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church.

Dalton was born February 17, 1937, in Pleasant Hill, Louisiana to Jessie and Carrie Stevens and entered into rest on Monday, January 8, 2024, at Green Meadow Haven Rehab in Coushatta, Louisiana. Dalton worked for Charlie Renfro for over 10 years, and he also worked at Nabors Trailers for over 20 years. He was a deacon at Blue Ridge Methodist Church. He loved making crockpot candy and loved to read Louis L ’Amour books over and over.

Farmer and rancher, O.E. Varnado, Jr. passed from this life on January 9, 2024, at home, on the same farm where he was born on June 20, 1926.

Skeeter grew up in Robeline, LA, spending time with his Stoker cousins on the DeWitt Stoker farm. After graduating from Robeline High School, he moved to Beaumont, TX, to work in a refinery. Later, he owned and operated a service station in Robeline before being called to the Army in 1947. On his return, he was a pulpwood contractor for a short time. Next, he found his calling in the oilfield. While working in the Big Island Field east of Pineville, LA, he met Jan Crews. In 1950, he was recalled to the Army for a year, and when he was discharged in 1951, he convinced Jan to leave college and to marry him on January 26, 1952. They spent 71-plus wonderful years together. They had two children: their son, Cliff, was born in 1957, and their daughter, Jana, was born in 1960.

Allen Meshell Sr. was born on August 29, 1963 in Zwolle, LA and passed away on January 17, 2024 in Zwolle, LA.

He was preceded in death by his father, Andrew Meshell and mother, Catherine Meshell and his brothers, Edward (Puncho) Meshell and Ricky Meshell.

He is survived by his special friend Tammy McSpadden; son, Allen Joe Meshell Jr. and Hayley; son, Braydon Meshell and Jaycee; son, Timothy Tucker; daughter, Tessa Meshell; sister, Mina Gail Bridges and husband Donald of Peason; brother, Benny D. Meshell of Zwolle; brother, Herman Meshell of Zwolle; sister, Debbie Lester and husband Joey of Zwolle; sister, Sandy Meshell of Zwolle; grandchildren: Aubree, Kyson, Ella-Kate and expecting the 4th in August; along with a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends.

Buddie Hippler, 71, of Many, Louisiana entered into eternal rest on January 11, 2024, at his residence. He was born on October 28, 1952, in Zwolle, Louisiana to Buddie Henry Hippler and to Lucille (Randolph) Hippler.

A visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, January 14, 2024, at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 9891 Texas Highway, Many, Louisiana. His funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. with Bro. Rodney Randolph officiating. Interment will follow in Hippler Cemetery, 9765 Texas Highway, Many, Louisiana.

He worked as a forklift operator in a sawmill. Buddie enjoyed being in his yard working with his flowers and watching birds fly around the area. Taking God’s beautiful natures of the world in made him happy.

Preceding him in death are his parents, Buddie Henry and Lucille (Randolph) Hippler; his daughter, Krystal Hippler Greer; and his sister, Melinda Callens.

“A heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.” - The Wizard of Oz (1939) Patricia Crow passed away peacefully on January 15, 2024. She was 84. She is survived by her children: Sabina Rowe (Rick) and Chad Crow (Colleen); four grandchildren: Josh Crow (Emily), Leacy Aycock (John), Logan Crow (Megan), and Chelsea Rowe; eleven great- grandchildren: Collyn, Clayton, Carson, Caroline, Tripp, Allie, Lucas, Sully, CC, Quinn, and Reese; one sister- in- law: Yvonne McDaniel of Walnut Creek, California; one brother-in-law: Larry Crow (Myrna) of Many, LA, and one half- brother: E.W. McDaniel, Jr. (Debbie).

Bobby Mizell was born in Kilgore, Texas on November 7, 1937 to U.D. and Pauline Dorsey Mizell. He passed away in his sleep early Thursday morning, January 11, 2024 in a Longview nursing facility. He worked for many years as a dispatcher for Eagle Trucking Company in Kilgore, Southern Transport in Shreveport. In a time before computers were required to operate, Bobby had the gift of remembering hundreds of phone numbers and contacts without the use of a logbook. He made friends all over the nation as he spoke daily to those that kept supplied and equipment on the haul. Bobby enjoyed many things throughout his lifetime, some of the things he enjoyed most were, playing 42 Dominos, his pigeons and rabbits, working in the yard to always make sure his grass was mowed and without doubt the greenest on the block, and watching Wheel of Fortune. He would never drive anything that wasn’t a white ford car. Bobby was an avid and faithful Dallas Cowboys fan.

Edna Ezernack of Many, Louisiana, passed away at Many Healthcare on January 3, 2024, at the age of 82. She was born to George W. Duke and Edna (Patterson) Duke on August 21, 1941, in Center, Texas. The family will receive visitors at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 9891 Texas Highway, Many, LA on Sunday, January 7, 2024, from 5:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. with a Rosary to begin at 6:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 1130 San Antonio Avenue, Many, LA 71449 on Monday, January 8, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. with Father Timothy Hurd officiating; burial will follow in the church cemetery.