Obituaries

Gregory Allen Shawver was born on April 18, 1950, in Valhalla, Westchester County, NY, where his father was a nursing student and his mother was a RN in the medical surgical ward.

He spent his youngest days in a Levittown house on Long Island, NY. His father was in the Army Nurse Corps and Greg spent his youth growing up in Japan, the Presidio, San Francisco, CA, and the Upper Bronx where he attended De Witt Clinton HS. He enlisted in the Army in 1967, and served as a helicopter mechanic and crew chief in Vietnam. He was awarded a Purple Heart after surviving several helicopter crashes in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in 1970. After serving he attended American University in Killeen, Texas, and received a degree in business aviation.

Dr. Wayne Douglas “Butch” Pray was bom in Winnfield, Louisiana on October 12,1945, to Daniel Oscar and Cornelia Long Pray, who preceded him in death. He passed away on February 23, 2019, due to an accident.

Butch was an honor graduate of Winnfield High School, LSU and Texas A & M University from whence he got his Veterinarian degree. For many years he owned and operated the Winnfield Animal Clinic, then he retired to do what he most loved; work on large animals particularly horses. Butch was the consummate cowboy, who never wore cowboy boots nor cowboy hats. He loved funny stories and was known to tell a few himself, but often he said that one of his greatest pleasures was not the hunt, but the woods.

Landon Delane Wright, age 17 of Winnfield, Louisiana passed away on February 26, 2019 at Christus St. Francis Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria.

He was a student at Winnfield Sr. High School. Landon never met a stranger and loved all his friends and family.

Landon was preceded in death by his grandfather Robert Daniel Wright and an uncle Jessie Fowler. He is survived by his mother and step-father Betty L. Snelling and Jay Hennigan, one brother Robert Daniel Wright; his fiancé Hanna Smith, two step brothers Aiden Hennigan and Nathan Folden, grandparents Ellis Snelling and Brenda Wright, aunt Irene Fowler and her son Dalton, two uncles Red Snelling and Clint Snelling, and his father Jessie Wright. He is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Mr. Franklin Odell Lunsford, age 91 of Winnfield, Louisiana passed away on Wednesday, February 27, 2019.

Born Saturday, May 14, 1927 in Rison, Arkansas, he was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Sue McRae Lunsford and Ervin Lunsford; wife, of 32 years, Una Vee Lunsford; wife, of 32 years, Georgia Ann Lunsford; son, Franklin Odell Lunsford, Jr.; step-daughter, Victoria Hampton; son-in-law, Richard Wayne “Ricky” Spangler; granddaughter, Laronda Nicole Spangler; great grandson, Caleb Shayne Jones; and brothers, T. J. Lunsford and Bobby Joe Lunsford,

Mr. Lunsford was retired from Hercules Powder with over 35 years of service. He was a Mason and served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theater. Mr. Lunsford loved to fish and was an avid fan of LSU.

Mr. Doyle Wade Kyson, age 84 of Winnfield, Louisiana passed away on Thursday, February 28, 2019 at his residence.

Mr. Kyson was born Saturday, November 17, 1934 in Winnfield, Louisiana, he was preceded in death by his parents, Wade Kyson and Edna Parker Kyson, and his son, Dieter Kyson. He was a member of Zion Baptist Church in Georgetown, the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association, and the Winn Riding Club and was retired from the Louisiana Department of Transportation after 35 years.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 58 years, Helga Rogge Kyson; his brother, Bobby L. Kyson (Faye) of Sulphur; his sister, Bonnie Kyson Lewis of Georgetown; a host of nieces and nephews; and two great nieces Magan and Lindsey Jordan

Funeral services were held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, March 3, 2019 at Zion Baptist Church with Rev. Vernon Blair and Rev. Bobby Bates officiating. Interment followed in Zion Cemetary, in Georgetown.

Mary Ruth Gorham, age 59 of Joyce, Louisiana passed away on Monday, February 25, 2019 at Rapides Regional Medical Center following a lengthy illness.

She was a member of Old Union Baptist Church and a homemaker. Mrs. Gorham was the daughter of the late Murle Walter McNeece Sr. and the late Dorothy May Greer McNeece. She was also preceded in death by her father and mother in law Rev. James Gorham Sr. and Beatrice Vines Gorham, as well as three brothers Marion McNeece, Murle Walter McNeece, Jr. and Walter McNeece.

Mrs. Gorham leaves to cherish her memory her loving husband James R. Gorham, Jr., son Sidney Gorham (Penny), daughter April Admire (Michael), Heather Stewart (Landon), and Dorothy Catlin (Dustin), brothers Bob McNeece, and Murle Ray McNeece, sisters Linda Clem and Shirley Dawson, 9 wonderful grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Billie Ruth Butts Jones, age 88 of Shreveport, passed away February 9, 2019. Mrs. Jones was born February 25, 1930 in Winnfield and was a homemaker. She was predeceased by her parents, Phillip and Ruth Bevill Butts; husband, William Bryan Jones; children, Phillip Jones, David Jones and Cathy Allen; sister, Marie Jacobs. Survivors include her granddaughter, Kelly Allen; greatgrandson, Danny Smith. Memorial services will be announced at a later date. Online messages of condolence may be posted online at www.southernfuneralhome.com.

Mrs. Dessie Pyles, age 92 of Jonesboro, passed away Thursday, February 21, 2019. She enjoyed church activities, traveling and painting China. She cherished time spent with her siblings. She is survived by her son, Andy Pyles (Kaye) of Winnfield; grandchildren, Dustin of Baton Rouge, Kayla (Dustin) of Ruston, Tyler of Restin, Virginia, Brooke (Paul) of Winnfield, Jourdan (Chase) of Winnfield; brother, Carol Hinton of Sulphur; sister, Carolyn Harvey of Quitman. She is preceded by her husband, Jimmie D. Pyles; parents, Mr. and Mrs. Travis Hinton; sisters, Vonice Coleman, Essie Rasberry.

Funeral services were held at 3:00 PM Sunday, February 24, 2019 in the Chapel of Edmonds Funeral Home, with Reverends Don Avery and Jon Tellifero officiating. Interment followed in Antioch Cemetery near Quitman under the direction of Edmonds Funeral Home.

Serving as pallbearers were Tyler Pyles, Dustin Hemperley, Chandler Harvey, Wes Harvey, Mike Brooks, Ronnie Savage.

Mr. Bonner Gordon Etheridge, Jr., age 70 of Winnfield, Louisiana passed away on Thursday, February 21, 2019. Born Tuesday, July 13, 1948 in Winnfield, Louisiana, he was proud of his children and loved them and their families dearly and will be remembered as a talented carpenter. He was a truck driver for various employers over the years and was retired from J.B. Griffin Construction.

Mr. Etheridge served in the US Navy and was retired from the Louisiana National Guard.

He was preceded in death by his father, Bonner Gordon Etheridge, Sr.; brother, Kerry Banks Etheridge.

Cassie Faye Booth Holmes, 99, left this earth to be with her Lord on Feb. 9, 2019 in Arlington.

Funeral was held at 1st United Methodist Church in Arlington, Texas on February 16, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.

She was born in Craft, Texas to Thomas Trusvan and Allie Mae Williams Booth in 1919. She was the 7th of 8 children, all deceased. In 1935, she married Oswald Holmes. They had 2 children, both deceased. In 1969, Oswald passed away and in 1976, she married Joe Holmes (brother to Oswald). He passed away in 1995.

She is survived by 4 grandchildren, Mike & Marty Holmes and John and Jamie Green, 6 great-grandchildren, 1 stepdaughter and her husband, Marjorie and Billy Cloy and several nieces, nephews, a number of other close family and a host of friends. Cassie sold Stanley Home Products for 62 years. She was the last living granddaughter of Reverend T.T. Booth, an East Texas Methodist circuit rider.