Gregory Alvin Lloid, 65, of Pineville, LA, passed away on Friday, December 15, 2023, at his home in Pineville.
He was born January 10, 1958 in Alexandria, LA to the union of his parents, Kermit D. and Janie Elizabeth Richardson Lloid.
Greg was the definition of the word “GREGARIOUS”, never meeting a stranger and having more friends than one can count.
Employed as a Certified Biomedical Electronics Technician by General Electric, Greg was based out of Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria, LA. As shop supervisor, he traveled all over Louisiana repairing medical equipment.
An Air Force brat, Greg lived in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Hawaii, finally landing in Natchitoches, LA. Upon graduation from Natchitoches Central High School in 1976, Greg joined the Coast Guard. Trained in electronics, he worked in communications at small boat stations on the east coast and was stationed on the United States Coast Guard Cutter Jarvis for two years, traveling between Alaska and Hawaii. He told tales of boarding and inspecting the holds of international fishing vessels in the Bering Sea.
Upon completing his military service in 1980, Greg returned to Natchitoches, LA and married his sweetheart, Tammy Gibson. He attended Northwestern State University and graduated in 1984 with an Associate’s Degree in Electronic Technology. Greg enjoyed Working at the NSU radio station KNWD (Your Mother Wouldn’t Like It) as a DJ, spinning records and hanging out with his buddies. While in college Greg worked with his dad in Audiovisual and Electronics Installation and Repair. Upon graduation from NSU Greg joined the repair team at Kelly Ward Music in Alexandria, LA repairing electronic instruments and visiting virtually every electronic organ in Rapides and Avoyelles parishes. Greg accepted a position as a Biomedical Electronics Technician at Rapides General Hospital in 1988. He turned down the initial job offer because Tammy didn’t want him to shave his beard, since she hadn’t seen him without a beard since high school. Clean shaven for a number of years, all was well when the employer’s rules were relaxed.
Greg had many talents and interests. He could build and/or repair just about anything. He made Tammy’s first spinning wheel in his required college woodworking class at NSU. One of his passions was volunteering at the Alexandria Zoological Park. With Leslie Whitt, Zoo Director, Greg did anything and everything at the Zoo for more than twenty-five years. He was a docent, substitute train driver, repaired equipment, constructed habitat, prepared animal diets, and made wonderful Zoo friends. The special group of Carla Oncay, Flora Luquette, Doris Edwards, and Lee Dufour were known as “Les’ Purple Hooters.” The Purple Hooters celebrated many occasions together over the years, particularly at Mardi Gras and Halloween.
Memorial services were held at 10 a.m., Friday, December 22, 2023, at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, LA.
Interment with military honors followed in the Coldwater Baptist Church Cemetery.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Karen Lloid Bond.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 43 years, Tammy; daughter, Alyssa Jane Lloid Ramstad (Daniel); brothers, Dee Lloid (Nancy) and Carl Lloid (Connie); sister, Karla Sue Lloid Autrey (Chuck); nieces, Paige Doering (Kayla) and Valerie Smith (Steven Toomey); nephew, Travis Lloid; great nephew, Noah Smith; and parents-in-law, Robert H. and Billie Gibson.
