Obituaries

James Randolph Brown was born in St. Louis, Missouri, relocated to Anaheim, California and retired in Many 30 years ago. He was a 32nd-degree Mason and a member of the Hemphill Lodge in Texas as well as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Jim loved his Masonic brethren’s avidly of obtaining the information when each lodge met. He was able to make endless visits in both Louisiana and Texas.

He is the father of seven children: Jamie of Colorado; Lynda of Many; Jim of California; Kitty of Arizona; John, who preceded Jim in death, of Virginia; Rose of California; and Cherokee of Many.

A memorial will be held on February 2 at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Many. Please come and help us say a final goodbye to a lovely spirit on behalf of his wife of 66 years, Joyce D. Brown.

William Ralph “Bill” Ross, 75, of Many, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, January 19, 2019, at the Sabine Medical Center.

Bill, a long time resident of Many, was born November 9, 1943. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He worked and retired as a Department of the Defense civilian in the Directorate of Personnel Management in Fort Polk.

Bill was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was a devoted Christian and a man of strong faith. He lovingly served the Lord in various capacities over the years. He served as a deacon and church secretary/treasurer, but his greatest enjoyment was using his talents for the Lord in the music ministry.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James Ralph and Beatrice Elizabeth Ross; and brothers, James Edward Ross and Donald Brackett Ross.

Richard H. Jones, Jr. was born January 22, 1931 and went to be with his Lord on January 25, 2019. He was 88 years old.

He lived in Alexandria where he met the love of his life, Dorothy Juanita Nugent at Bolton High School and they married on July 30, 1949 at Enterprise Baptist Church. At age 27 he was ordained as a Deacon at Homewood Baptist Church. They moved their membership to Trinity Baptist Church in Pineville and on May 22, 1994 he was presented a plaque for 25 years of service as Treasurer for Trinity Baptist Church. Afterwards, they retired and moved to Zwolle on Toledo Bend and joined Aimwell Baptist where he served as Chairman of Deacons, Sunday School Director, and on various other committees.

Junior was also known for putting on big fish fries at church. May 25, 2005 He caught a large mouth bass weighing 10 pounds 10 ounces on Toledo Bend, which he proudly displayed in his home. This was one of his many highlights in his life on the lake.

William Eugene “Bill” Stewart was born June 20, 1937 in Rochester, New York to Eugene and Jeanette Stewart and entered into rest on January 21, 2019. He served honorably in the United States Army and retired with 32 years of service. He was an active member of the VFW and DAV for many years.

Graveside services for Bill were held January 24 at St. Ann Catholic Cemetery in Noble with Father Francis Kamu officiating.

Preceding Bill in death were his parents, Eugene and Jeanette Stewart of New York; three sisters and three brothers from New York; son, Rodrick Allen Feldhiser; grandson, Stevie Allen Ferguson and granddaughter, Terri Ellen.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dale Lee Ward on January 16, 2019 after a short illness. Born to coach, he was a fierce patriot, retired Vietnam Army Veteran, devoted father, husband, and family man. Anyone that met Dale was immediately taken by his charm and infectious sense of humor.

He was born in Oklahoma and raised in Texas where he played high school football, but coaching was his destiny. He served honorably in the United States Army during the Vietnam war and retired after 20 plus years. Dale fulfilled his lifelong dream of coaching high school football at Many High School, Minden High School, Parkway, D’Arbonne Charter School and Glenbrook in Minden.

He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Renee; daughters, Erin and husband, Josh, and Sandra; son, D.J.; grandchildren, Megan and Tre’; sisters, Cindy W. Head and Gena Klima; and many loving family members and the many children he coached and taught over the years.

Funeral services for Rolla Harold Kelly Jr., 85, of Many were held January 17 at Oak Hill Baptist Church with Bros. Mike Henderson and Hoy Leach officiating. Wanda Walker, Clint Anderson, Russell Peace and Amy Crittenden provided music for the service. Burial followed in the Oak Hill Cemetery.

He was born Tuesday, November 7, 1933 in Sabine Parish, and passed away on Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at Sabine Retirement & Rehabilitation Center in Many.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rolla Harold Kelly, Sr. and Nellie DeBose Kelly; sister, Jewell K. Wedgeworth; and nephews, Ricky Wedgeworth and Michael Wedgeworth.

He is survived by his sister, Peggy K. Crittenden of Many; nieces, Sharon Montang of Many and Charlene McCormic of Many; and nephews, Kelly Crittenden of Ruston, and Kasey Crittenden of Natchitoches; along with a host of friends.

Funeral services for Larry Lee Wright were held January 12 at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Hornbeck with Bro. John Northway officiating. Interment followed at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Hornbeck.

Larry Wright was born on December 27, 1936 in Hillsdale, Michigan, the son of Harold Esterline and Dorothy Curtis. He was later adopted by Harold Wright. He entered eternal rest on January 7, 2019 at Silsbee Oaks Convalescent Home at the age of 82 years, 0 months and 11 days.

Larry joined the army at age 17. While he was stationed at Fort Polk, he met and married Remona Byrd of Hornbeck. Larry worked at many, many jobs in Michigan, Texas and Louisiana. He had been back in Hornbeck, for 35 years and had retired at Boise in Florien, then retired from the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Department in Leesville.

He had been a Mason since 1971. He was Grand Master at the Hornbeck Lodge in 1991. He was ordained as a minister in 1976. He always loved fishing, camping and traveling.

Edward was born in Natchitoches to Edward and Geneva Campbell on July 15, 1948 and entered into rest on January 7, 2019. He was a member of Belmont Union Baptist Church. He served honorably in the United States Army.

Funeral services for Mr. Campbell were held January 9 at Belmont Union Baptist Church in Belmont. Bros. John Lewing and Glynn Howard officiated. Interment followed at the Belmont Cemetery in Belmont.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Melissa Ann “Missy” Campbell Rivers; great granddaughter, Ann Marie Murphy; and brothers, Johnny Campbell and Gene Campbell.

On April 11, 2018 Kyle Edward Free, a loving father, caring son, and compassionate brother and an unconditional friend, went home to be with the Lord.

Kyle was born May 15,1986 to his father, Jonathan Edward Free and his mother, Robin Matthews Graham. Kyle was a quick-witted young man with a contagious smile, compassionate heart that touched so many lives. He was an accomplished welder/fabricator since his early adulthood and carried on his family legacy of talented artists.

Kyle leaves behind a young son, Bentley Marcus Free, and his best friend, Conner Andrew Loftin; both his parents, Jonathan Edward Free, and wife, Lillian, and mother, Robin Matthews Graham; brothers, Justin Free and wife, Sam, and their children, Kristen, Bradley, and Dorothy, Jeremy Free, and Nikolaos Matthews; sisters, Megan Miller and her children, Jaime, Bubba, and Braxton, Katie Newcomb, and Shelby Cady; MaMaw, Jerry and husband, Mike; and many aunts and uncles and cousins.

Ernest Rodrigues Jr. age 81, died peacefully at the Many Health-Care Nursing Home in Many. From his birth here in Many, on June 18, 1937 to his death on January 8, 2019, he nourished the people around him with love, faith, and giving. He was a man that never met a stranger, had a feather in his cap and handed out over 45,000 miniature crosses with a purple string.

Ernest was born in Many to Ernest and Nancy Remedies Rodrigues and was the second oldest of 11 children. By the age of nine, E. Rod started working all kinds of jobs to help support the ever-growing family. He did everything from selling watermelons in Nacogdoches, Texas to running errands and carrying water to the workers while Hodges Gardens was being built.