Obituaries

Mr. Tom Kelly, age 90 of Dodson, passed through the gates of Heaven on June 5, 2021 to meet his Savior, Jesus Christ, and loved ones that have preceded him. Mr. Kelly was a former newspaper publisher operating several newspapers.

Kelly was a graduate of Dodson High School and attended Louisiana State University and graduated from Northwestern State University with a degree in journalism. He began his career in journalism as a reporter for the Winn Parish Enterprise in 1949.

During the next 10 years he served in various positions at the weekly Sevier County News-Record in Sevierville, Tn, at the Gladewater [Texas] Daily Mirror and the weekly Natchitoches Enterprise.

In 1959 he joined the Jennings Daily News as managing editor in 1962 he became partner and publisher of The Ruston Daily Leader in Ruston, Louisiana. After almost 20 years as publisher he moved to Slidell where he managed the Slidell Daily Times.

Vivian Burnette Thornton Peel, age 98, of Jonesboro, Louisiana, passed away Sunday, May 23, 2021, at Alpine Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in Ruston, Louisiana.

Mrs. Peel was born in Jonesboro, Louisiana, on May 27, 1922, to Willie Benton Thornton and Mattie Mae Neal Thornton. She married James Murray Peel on June 10, 1939, and soon thereafter, she bore the responsibility of caring for their two young children until he returned from serving in the United States Army during World War II. She later worked in a Jonesboro clothing store for a short time, but she was predominantly a homemaker, known to her family as an excellent cook, seamstress, and gardener. Mrs. Peel was a devoted Christian and a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Jonesboro, Louisiana, teaching children's Sunday School for many years.

Graveside memorial services for Sarah Lucille Spangler Waters will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, June 18, 2021 at Beech Creek Cemetery. The cemetery is located on Beech Creek Church Rd, north of Hwy 124 in Winn Parish, just west of the Winn Parish-LaSalle Parish line.

Sarah Lucille Waters, 86, of Cheyenne, Wyoming passed on Thursday, November 7, 2019, at her home surrounded by her family.

A service to celebrate the life of Billy Martin will be held at 2 pm on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at Creston Baptist Church with Pastor Truman Leach and Bro. Ken Roberts officiating. Burial will follow at Antioch Cemetery, Brewton Mill, LA under the direction of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. The family received friends after 5 pm on Tuesday, June 8 ^th at Creston Baptist Church located at 5315 LA-9, Creston, LA 71070.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers include Johnny Hasley, Brandon Watkins, Lee Cavazos, Cody Gray, Tim Howell, and Dusty Cavazos. Honorary pallbearers will be Billy Boyer, Randell Kelley, Richard Kelley, and Thomas Allen.

Billy Joe Martin, 56 years of age and a resident of Goldonna, passed away on June 3, 2021 in Shreveport, LA. He was born on July 2, 1964 to Johnny and Nelda Brown Martin in Turkey, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Mrs. Shirley Lowery, age 72 of Joyce, Louisiana passed away on Saturday, June 5, 2021.

Born Sunday, December 19, 1948 in Zwolle, Louisiana, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Lowery; parents Mary Florence Leone Moore and Willie Moore; brothers, Willie Moore and wife Barbara, Lawrence Morre and Gerald Moore.

Mrs. Lowery loved her family and enjoyed gardening and playing games on her phone.

Pat Glenn Harrell, 67, passed away on May 22, 2021, in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. A public viewing was held from 4-6 pm, Friday, May 28, 2021 at the Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel, 373 E. Hayden Ave., Hayden, ID. Funeral services were held at 10 am on May 29, 2021 at NorthStar Baptist Church, 8145 N Ramsey Road, Hayden, ID.

Pat was born April 28, 1954, in Alexandria, LA., to Pat Gue and Annie Mae Harrell. He graduated from Winnfield Senior High School in 1972, and went on to earn his Bachelor of Science in P e t r o l e u m Engineering from Louisiana State University, where he developed a lifelong love for his alma mater.

He began his career as a petrochemical engineer in 1977, working across oilfields and offshore platforms for 15 years.

Randy L. Poisso, age 71 of Winnfield, Louisiana passed away on Thursday, May 20, 2021, at Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria.

Born in Winnfield in 1950, Randy was raised in Houma, La., and moved back to Winnfield when he was 13. He was very active in school athletics and set many Winn Parish and Louisiana State records. Many of which remain unbroken today. He attended Northeast Louisiana University, where he obtained a degree in education. Randy taught history and world geography for 33 years and touched the lives of many of his students. Upon retirement he enjoyed his time as Papaw. His greatest love on this earth was his wife Patricia. He was a family man in the truest sense of the word and the rock of the Poisso Family.

Claude Luther O’Bryan from Winnfield, LA passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at Riverside Hospital in Alexandria at the age of 84.

Claude L. was born August 22, 1936 to Lorice Burnum O’Bryan Cole and Claude O’Bryan of Calvin, La. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sydney O ’ B r y a n , brother,Connor Atherton, great-grandchild, and wife Wanda Sue O’Bryan.

Growing up Claude was an avid outdoorsman where he enjoyed gardening, raising cattle and horses, and hog hunting. He was an outstanding basketball player for Calvin High School and remained a loyal Calvin Cougar throughout his life. He joined the Louisiana National Guard after graduating high school. Claude L worked in many industries throughout life including, farming, ranching, oil field, telephone company, and trucking. He owned his own trucking business before he retired.

Mr. Kevin Ray Jordan, age 57 of Winnfield, Louisiana passed away on Sunday, May 23, 2021.

He was born Saturday, December 14, 1963 in Winnfield, Louisiana, to the union of Arvil and Betty Jordan.

He leaves behind his Mother Betty; wife Sharyl; his stepson, Randy Wilson Jr.; step daughter Shauntaza Knox; and his son Jarred Jordan. He also had five step grandchildren Preston and Hollee Wilson and Kaelyn, Alayna and Kean Knox. He has two brothers, Steve Jordan in Monroe and Richard Jordan in Winnfield. He also has 2 children that were his second wife’s children that he cared about and was there for several years, Meagan Miller and Justin Bailey.

He is preceded in death by his father Arvil .

The family will receive friends on Friday, May 28, 2021, at Southern Funeral Home, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM, and again on Saturday, May 29, 2021, at Southern Funeral Home, from 10:00 AM until time of services.

Mr. Guy C. Gaar, Jr. passed from this life on Saturday, May 8, 2021 in Forest Haven Nursing and Rehab in Jonesboro, Louisiana. Guy was born to the union of Guy C. Gaar, Sr. and Clara Carter Gaar in Monroe, Louisiana on September 15, 1936. He was blessed to be on this earth 84 years 7 months and 23 days. Guy spent his working career as an electrician in several of the local wood mills in Winn Parish. He proudly served his country during the Korean War Conflict in the Army. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing, traveling and spending precious time with his family. He will be greatly missed by all who had opportunity to know him.

He is preceded in death by is parents Guy C. and Clara Carter Gaar, one sister Sue Gunter, and brother-in-law Robert L. Gunter.