Obituaries

Mrs. Geneva Aline Ayres James, age 91, of Dodson, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, in Jonesboro, Louisiana. She was born on Wednesday, March 16, 1932, in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, to her parents, Lee R. Ayres and Allie Davis Ayres.

Geneva was a loving and devoted wife for 64 years to her late husband, Walter Lynn James, Sr., and together they created a loving and close-knit family. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Geneva was preceded in death by six cherished family members, including her father, Lee R. Ayres; mother, Allie Davis Ayres; husband, Walter Lynn James, Sr.; brothers, Lee R. Ayres, Jr., Lavelle Ayres and Leslie Carl Ayres; sisters, Doris Ayres, JoAnn Smudericks and Linda Tamborella; and grandson, Justin Daniel James.

Regan Montgomery James of Jonestown, Texas left this world 8/9/23 after a brief illness. Her beloved husband, her father, and her brother were at her bedside.

Regan was born 6/25/77 in Sedalia, Missouri to Mike and Darice (Crawford) Montgomery. She attended school in Sedalia and Liberty, Missouri and graduated form Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton, Texas with a degree in Communication and Journalism.

Regan is survived by her loving husband, Richard James of Jamestown, Texas, her mother Darice Crawford Montgomery of Decatur, Texas, her father Mike and Trish Montgomery of Lockhart, Texas, her brother Kirk (Catherine and Oliva) Montgomery of Brandon, Mississippi, her maternal grandmother Catherine Crawford of Sedalia, Missouri. Regan is also survived by her mother-in-law, Sharon Carpenter of Winnfield, Louisiana, her brother-in-law Brandon James of Winnfield, Louisiana and her life long friend Kelly Jarma of Temple, Texas.

William ‘Bill’ Lee Burton died on April 5, 2023 in Jonesboro Louisiana at the age of 82. Bill was born to Leonidas and Hattie Margaret Kirkland on December 28, 1941 in Kissimmee Florida. Leonidas died during the World War 2 conflict. Hattie later married Robert Lloyd Burton, who quickly adopted Bill and his two younger siblings, brother Richard Arlie Burton and sister Janice Marie Dick.

Bill worked offshore drilling rigs in the gulf and throughout the world including the North Seas and the Middle East. He also worked locally logging and felling timber.

When not working, Bill could be found on the river fishing.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents and his wife. He is survived by his two siblings Richard A. Burton, Janice M. Dick, his three children William L. Burton Jr, Robert L. Burton and Christina L. Burton and 13 grandchildren.

David Eugene Christman passed from this mortal life and entered his eternal home on August 14, 2023. David was born on November 10, 1934, to Lloyd Christman and Lois (née) Loflin Christman in Clarks, Louisiana.

David graduated with his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern State University. He then served in the United States Army after the Korean War. Later he completed his master’s in social work from Louisiana State University.

He began his career with Northwestern State University as an adjunct professor in charge of the North Central Louisiana Special Education Testing Team. After retiring in 1980, David began a second career with the State of Louisiana Children’s Social Services, as part of a team helping children in need. In the latter part of his stint with the State of Louisiana, he inspected nursing homes. David retired for the second time in 1998.

Elinor Octavia Brian Krull, known as “Susie” to most, passed away peacefully on August 17, 2023, in Memphis, Tennessee. She was born to parents Elinor and Samuel Brian and spent the majority of her life in Winnfield, Louisiana. She served as an educator for 40 years, touching the lives of hundreds of children of all ages and intellectual abilities.

She is survived by two children Susanne Taylor (husband Doug), and Ray Krull (wife Amber) and their two children Lillian Elinor and Ridley Isaac. She is also survived by her brother Sammy Brian (wife Sharon), three nieces, a host of grand nieces and nephews, as well as many extended family members.

Lovan Barton Thomas, publisher of The Natchitoches Times, passed away peacefully at his home Sunday morning, Aug. 13, 2023.

Services will be Wednesday, Aug. 23, at the First United Methodist Church on Second Street in Natchitoches. Visitation will be at 9 a.m. with services at 11 a.m. A private burial will be in the American Cemetery on Second Street for family and close friends.

Mr. Thomas was preceded in death by his wife Patricia; mother Elsie Mae Childers, step-mother Freda Scoggins Thomas, father Maxwell John Thomas, sister Mary Galen Thomas, uncle Kenneth Thomas, aunt Ann Childers Barton, uncle Norman F. Childers and granddaughter Madeleine Renee Mayo.

He is survived by his daughter, Tracy Thomas Mayo; son, Maxwell John Thomas II and his husband Gabriel Masson; grandson Lovan Thomas Mayo; sisterin- law Kathleen Wilson Farmer; brother- in-law John Oliver Wilson and his wife Beclee Newcomer Wilson; and cousin Galen Clavier.

Martha Dollar Moore went to her Heavenly Home on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Bossier City, Louisiana. Martha was born January 29, 1939, in Jonesboro, Louisiana. She was 84 years old. She was preceded in death by her parents, Hazel and Ted Dollar, sister Diana Jo, husband Robert L. Moore, and aunts, uncles, cousins and friends before her.

Martha was born a song bird. She had a beautiful classical voice and attended Centenary College where she sang in the Centenary College Choir. Later on in life she was able to be a music teacher in Arkansas for a few years and loved it. Martha always sang in the church choirs and had her Bible studies. A few churches she went to and visited always had her sing.

Martha loved her garden flowers. She had a green thumb with flowers and worked in her flower beds until she just couldn’t, but she kept up flower pots in her house.

Ruth Elaine (Creel) Gard, age 78, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on July 16, 2023. Ruth was born April 21, 1945 in Winnfield, LA. She was preceded in death by her parents, Silas and Lelwyn Creel; husband of 11 months, William (Billy) Robertson; brother, John Creel; sister, Jenna Gates; and brother, Joseph Creel.

Ruth is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 55 years, Garry Gard; her daughter, Gina Crozier (Doug); granddaughters, Sydney Crozier and Katelyn Crozier; sister, Sarah Sanders; brother, Porter Creel, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Donald “Donnie” L. Wells, previously from Jefferson City, MO, was called to his heavenly home on July 20, 2023 after a brief illness.

He was born June 8, 1939 to Thomas and Viola Marie Wells. The Lord blessed him with 84 wonderful years.

He served his beloved country in the United States Marine Corps for 2 years and continued in the Reserves for another 4 years.

Mr. Walter Tate White, Jr., of Houma, Louisiana passed peacefully from this life on Sunday, July 2, 2023 in Terrebone General Hospital with his precious family at his side. Mr. White was born in Shreveport, Louisiana to the union of Walter Tate White, Sr. and Warrena Harlow White on April 24, 1929. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran, serving on the USS Sabine (1946-1948) and then a merchant mariner (1948-1951). He married the love of his life, Florence Harrington on February 23, 1952. He retired from a long career from Bell South and AT&T phone companies

with 30 plus years as an engineer. A very active 94 year old, he spent his childhood in Packton, Louisiana and graduated from Selma High School. He enjoyed maintaining his timber property and loved traveling with his wife in their RV.

Mr. White is preceded in death by his parents, Walter Tate White, Sr. and Warrena Harlow White, and one grandchild, Andrew William White.