Obituaries

A Memorial service honoring the life of Shirley S. Johnston, will be celebrated at The Oaks of Louisiana Chapel, 600 E. Flournoy Lucas Rd, Shreveport, LA 71115 at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 27, 2016. This will be followed by a reception for family and friends in the Community Center. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 1:00 p.m. Shirley was born on June 18, 1931 in Tulsa, OK to John Raymond and Reba Dalton Sykes and passed away on December 17, 2016. She worked as a secretary at BAFB in Bossier City for over 20 years until she retired. Shirley loved to help and care for others. She was an avid card player and called BINGO at The Oaks for many years. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother. Shirley’s family was the joy of her life and will miss her dearly. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, John and Reba Sykes, her husband of 55 years, Herman L.

Funeral services for Mr. Vernon Carter, Sr. were held at 10:00 am on Tuesday, December 27th, 2016 at Montgomery United Pentecostal Church in Montgomery, LA with Rev. Donald Givens officiating. Interment followed at St. Maurice Cemetery following the services. Vernon Carter, Sr., 84 years of age, passed away at his home in St. Maurice on December 16, 2016. He was born May 10, 1932, to Peter Carter and Alberta Antee Carter in Montgomery, LA. Vernon was a caring father who worked hard to provide for his family. He was a junk collector and seller and a commercial fisherman. He loved the outdoors greatly and spent as much time fishing and deer hunting as he could. He would help anyone in need, as he never wanted to see anyone go without. He also enjoyed going to auctions whenever he could. He was a kind man that never met a stranger, and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Gordon C Peters passed away on December 21st, 2016. He was born December 25th, 1936 of the union of John J. Peters and Phyllis Cummings Peters. He was preceded in death by his sister Katherine and her husband Wyn. John Peters, sometimes known as John Jr, and his wife Jean Mixon Peters also died before Gordon. He is survived by Kim Bankston and her husband Lynn. Gordon was a graduate of Winnfield Senior High School; Huron State College in Huron South Dakota; and the University of South Dakota. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Huron State College and a Master of Arts degree at the University of South Dakota. Gordon was a former member of the Texas State Historical Association, the Texas Oral History Association, and the Texas Folklore Society. Gordon also served in the South Dakota National Guard. He has been an active member of the Winnfield Senior High School Quarterback Club and was an avid outdoor sportsman, particularly liking to hunt quail in his adopted state of Texas.

Mrs. Margaret Gorham, age 68 of Joyce, Louisiana, passed away Saturday, December 17, 2016 at Autumn Leaves Nursing Home in Winnfield. She was born in Winnfield May 17, 1948 and was a homemaker and member of Old Union Baptist Church.

Mrs. Gorham was the daughter of the late Bush Jackson Vines Jr. and the late Geneva Meyers Vines. She was also preceded in death by her husband Robert D. Gorham, daughter Cindy Broadway, and son Robert D. Gorham Jr., and a brother Clifford Vines.

She leaves to cherish her memory Eight Grandchildren Derek Broadway, Lacy Paul, Misti Wilkerson, Robert Gorham III, Zachery Gorham, Summer Cheyene Gorham, Kendra Gorham and Aaron Drew Gorham, great grandchildren Amelia Grace Goodeaux, Kenzley Grace Reeves, Annabelle Paul, and Sophia Wilkerson. Mrs. Gorham is also survived by several brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews.

Funeral services for Mrs. Dianne B. Litton were held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 15, 2016 at Mars Hill Baptist Church, Montgomery, Louisiana with Brother Tony Dick and Brother Craig McCain officiating. Interment was in Mars Hill Baptist Church Cemetery, Montgomery, Louisiana under the direction of Gallagher Funeral Home of Ball, Louisiana.

Mrs. Litton, age 61, of Montgomery, Louisiana, entered eternal rest on Monday, December 12, 2016 as a result of an automobile accident.

Dianne was the general manager for the Natchitoches Times for the past 44 years. She was a member of Mars Hill Baptist Church, loved garage sales, crafts, painting and just making things beautiful. She was the “surrogate Mother” for all of Kimberly’s friends growing up. Mrs. Litton lived for her family. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.

Mrs. Phyllis Janet Davis McLaren, age 71 of Atlanta, Louisiana passed away on Tuesday, December 13, 2016. Born Wednesday, July 18, 1945 in Many, Louisiana, she was a member of Mars Hill Baptist Church. She was an avid gardener, loved fishing and cherished her family as well as her three dogs, Coco, Macy and Honey Bunny.

Mrs. McLaren was preceded in death by her Parents, James H. and Marguerite Cloud Davis; Son, James Paul.

Those left to cherish her memory include her Husband, Frank McLaren; Daughters, Fran Dick (Tony), Susan Horne (Clay) and Sally McLaren; Son, Bradley McLaren (Kelly); Sister, Patricia Longo; 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 PM on Friday, December 16, 2016 at Mars Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Tony Dick officiating. Interment followed in Mars Hill Cemetery under the direction of Southern Funeral Home, Winnfield.

Michael Jeffrey Kelley Michael Jeffrey Kelley, a lifelong resident of Calvin, Louisiana, passed away on December 5, 2016 after a short illness. Services were held at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, December 7, 2016 in the Southern Funeral Home chapel of Winnfield with Reverend Dick Debusk presiding. Interment followed in Bethlehem Cemetery in Calvin. Jeff was born on September 25,1959 to the union of Maxine Barnes Kelley and Marvin Julian Kelley. Following his graduation from Calvin High School, Jeff became a welder by trade. At the age of 18 he became a member of the Pipefitters Union #798. His welding jobs gave him many opportunities to travel throughout the world to many different countries. In 1996 he married the love of his life, Tracy Maggio Kelley. He was a devoted father to their two children, daughter, Makayla Jyssica and son, Manning Gauge. As his children began to grow up and become more involved in school, Jeff decided to stay closer to home.

Audrey Lee Rainwater, age 88 of Winnfield, passed away December 1, 2016. Services were held December 10, 2016.