Obituaries

John William Smith passed away on Wednesday, May 25, 2016, at the age of 77 years. He was born on July 5, 1938, in Urania, Louisiana, to Hugh Ellis Smith and Zadie Mae Cox Smith. John proudly served our country in the U.S. Marine Corps. On July 17, 1968, he married Linda Jo Taylor in Dennison, Texas. He has lived in the Katy area for the last 40 years and ran his own CPA practice for the past 33. He was also an avid hunter, loved to travel, and spend time with friends and family. He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Linda Smith of Brookshire, Texas; daughters, Amy Wade and her husband Randy and Sara Root and her husband David, all of Brookshire, Texas; grandchildren, Kasey Wells, Taylor Root, Kendall Wells, Tip Wade, Eli Wade, and Colton Root; sister, Carolyn Bice and her husband Charles of Winnfield, Louisiana; as well as other loving family members and a host of friends. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m.

Mr. Emile “Brother” Iverstine, age 93 of Winnfield, passed away on Thursday, May 19, 2016 at Germantown Methodist Hospital in Germantown, TN. Mr. Iverstine is the son of the late Luke Iverstine Sr. and the late Frances Stafford Iverstine. He was also preceded in death by a son, Frankie Dewayne Iverstine, and five sisters: Tina Profita, Laura Baptist, Josephine Puma, Annie Poillion, and Linda King. Mr. Iverstine is survived by one son, Steven Wayne Iverstine and his wife Mary Watts Iverstine, two grandchildren: Adam Daniel Iverstine and Sarah Kathryn Iverstine all of Collierville, TN. He is also survived by two sisters, Mary Stang and Bessie Magro and two brothers, Dave Iverstine and Luke Iverstine Jr. After service in the United States Army during WWII, he retired from Harrell Builders and Supply and moved to Tennessee to be near his son and grandchildren. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend to many.

Mrs. Barbara Ann “Mott” Welch, 71 of Montgomery, LA passed away on May 21, 2016 at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center. She was born on September 17, 1944 in Natchitoches to the late Hargrove and Bernis Gongre. Barbara worked for many years as a caregiver to others. She loved being with her family and enjoyed putting puzzles together with anyone willing to help her. She enjoyed spending time in her flower garden as well as bream fishing when she was able. Crafting was something she loved to do and she was so great at it. She will be greatly missed by her children, grandchildren and everyone who loved her. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her sister, Betty Welch. Survivors include her four Children: Clay Welch (Sondra Hale) of St. Maurice, LA, Curtis Welch of Montgomery, LA, Connie Welch Pharris and her late husband, Mark “Shakey” Pharris of Madisonville, KY, and Kevin “Boss” Welch (Sheryl) of Natchitoches, LA.

Mr. John F. Wheeler, age 74 of Toledo Bend, Louisiana passed away on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, at St. Patrick’s Hospital in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Born in Houston, Texas, he was preceded in death by his parents, John Williamson Wheeler and Frances Holmes Wheeler. He graduated from Winnfield High School in 1961. He lived, worked, raised a family in Winnfield, and after retirement moved to the lake. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Jennifer Smith Wheeler of Toledo Bend; son, John Clayton Wheeler and wife Lisa of Baytown, Texas and daughter Carla Wheeler Williams and husband Paul of Lake Charles, Louisiana and three grandsons, Nathaniel Williams, Hayden Williams, and John William “Jack” Wheeler. Interment will be on Saturday, May 28 at 11:00 a.m. in Garden of Memories Cemetery under the direction of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield. Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 6977 Main Street, Houston, TX 77030-3701 or St.

Kenneth Charles Carpenter, Jr., age 61 of Calvin, Louisiana passed away on Friday, May 13, 2016. Born Thursday, September 30, 1954 in Winnfield, Louisiana, he was preceded in death by his mother, Loreese Machen Carpenter; father, Kenneth Charles Carpenter; and wife, Jeanne Carpenter. Those left to cherish his memory include his sons, Pierce Carpenter and wife Tiffany, Scottsboro, AL and Bobby Carpenter and wife Stacia, Dry Prong, LA; grandchildren, Cole, Audaleigh, and Emmylou Carpenter; brother, Eugene Cockerham, Augusta, GA; sisters, June Sanders, Winnfield, LA, Annette Womack, Winnfield, LA, and Peggy Lodridge, Dry Prong, LA; and numerous step children, step grandchildren, and other relatives. Funeral services were held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, May 15, 2016 at Southern Funeral Home with Rev. Kenneth Murrell officiating. Interment followed in Cypress Creek Cemetery, in Dodson.

Mrs. Jimmie Maurice Frazier, age 94 of Winnfield, Louisiana, passed away on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at Winn Parish Medical Center. Mrs. Frazier was a member of the First Baptist Church of Winnfield where she was a member of the Tri L Sunday School Class. She was retired from Winn Department Store. Mrs. Frazier was the daughter of Jonah H. Steen and Eva Martin Steen and was also preceded in death by her husband Cloy Lee Frazier, son Mickey Frazier, Daughter, Jan Frazier Wilson, two grandchildren Allison Lynette Wilson and Jennifer Leigh Wilson, brother JT Steen and sister Joyce Stott.

Our beloved Ronald “Peewee”, “Chalk” King was born on November 17, 1953 to the late Mildred and James B. King Sr. He was the youngest of two sets of twins. He joined Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church at an early age under the leadership of the late Rev. Fred Jacobs before moving to Houston, TX. While in Houston he worked for years as a construction worker. He then moved back to Winnfield per his mother’s wishes. After moving back he began working at a local saw mill until he began having health issues. He was an outgoi.ng man who loved his family, sports, dancing, and his favorite food “potato salad”. His health began to fail again in November 2015. While in the hospital he accepted Christ and became a member of the Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor James B. King Jr. He departed this life on April 29, 2016 at the Rapides Regional Medical Center. He was preceded in death by his parents Mildred and James B.