Obituaries

Thomas Floyd Ellston, 59, of Commerce City, Colorado and a native of Jena, passed from this life on Monday, June 29, 2020, in Amarillo, Texas.

He was born Tuesday, August 16, 1960.

Thomas was killed in a three-vehicle accident that occurred on US 287 in Sherman County, Texas on June 29.

Ellston was traveling southwest down US 287 on a motorcycle when he came upon two 18-wheelers heading northwest. One of the trucks tried to pass the other and ended up hitting Ellston. He lost control of his motorcycle, which exploded and struck the trailer of the other truck. He was pronounced dead on the scene by Texas authorities.

Ellston was on his way to Jena to visit his mother when the accident occurred. When Thomas lived here, he worked as a truck driver and for several logging companies.

Thomas was of the Pentecostal faith and his passion was riding motorcycles, driving big trucks and hunting.

Sherry Bell Clift, 50, of Las Vegas, Nevada, passed from this life on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, in Las Vegas after a brief but courageous battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Sherry was born January 21, 1970, to the union of her parents, Rayford and Carolyn Crooks Bell, both natives and former residents of Jena.

She was preceded in death by her parents; maternal grandparents, C. A. (Carrie) and Edna Finlay Crooks; paternal grandparents, Walter and Laura Edwards Bell, all of Jena; and her son-in-law, Joseph Estrada of Las Vegas.

Survivors include her husband, Bob Clift; children, Melanie Estrada and Hunter Melton and two grandchildren, Manny and Hannah, all of Las Vegas; three brothers, Kenny Bell, Paul Bell, and Jim Bell, all former residents of Jena; her uncle, Steve H. Crooks; and two aunts, Rannie Richardson and Pat Taylor, all of Jena; and numerous cousins in and around LaSalle Parish.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Starlet Angel Breithaupt, 47, passed from this life on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 in Baton Rouge.

She was a native of Jena, being born November 13, 1972 to the union of Terry Roark and Donna Darlene Breithaupt.

Angel was a person full of life and enjoyed the company of those she encountered. She will be greatly missed by her family and certainly a host of friends.

Services were held at 2 p.m., Sunday, July 5, in the chapel of Kinner and Stevens Funeral Home of Jena with the Revs. Johnnie Phillips and Jimmy Keene officiating.

Interment followed in the Jena Cemetery, east of Jena, under direction of Kinner and Stevens, Inc. of Jena.

She was preceded in death by her parents; grandfather, Robert Breithaupt, Sr.; and grandmother, Edna Breithaupt, one brother, Terry Lynn Breithaupt.

Rebecca Lynn Townsend Wilson, 54, of Cottonport, passed from this life on Tuesday, June 23, 2020 at her home.

She was born Tuesday, May 24, 1966.

Services were held at 10 a.m., Friday, June 26, at Wallace Ridge Pentecostal Church in Catahoula Parish with the Rev. John Holloway and Brothers Terry Glaspell and Stevenson officiating.

Interment followed in Heard Cemetery near Manifest under direction of Magnolia Funeral Home of Alexandria.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Fid and Mennie Parker; paternal grandparents, Al and Virginia Townsend; and granddaughter, Ariana Parker.

Jimmy A. Taylor, 80, of Columbia, passed from this life on Thursday, June 25, 2020, at his residence.

He was born November 9, 1938 in Olla to the union of his parents, Walter and Jessie Arnold Taylor.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Pearlie Taylor; and daughter, Melinda Perot.

Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Michelle Lindsey (Nick); sister, Katherine Newsom; grandchildren, Dylan Perot (Kim), Dustin Perot, and Andie Lindsey; and great grandchildren, Kinleigh Perot, Kaylee Perot, Brayden Perot, and Mattie Perot.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date, under direction of Riser Funeral Home of Columbia.

Reverend James Wright Simons, 95, of Winnfield, passed from this life on Monday, June 22, 2020.

He was born March 22, 1925 in Franklin Parish to the union of his parents, Marion Simons and Ola Hatten Simons.

After graduating from Crowville High School, Rev. Simons joined the U.S. Navy where he was selected to receive advanced training as a radioman. He was initially trained in San Diego, CA where he was taught to send and receive Morse code, type, and become familiar with naval radio operating procedures along with commando training for shore operations.

As a radioman, he was responsible for the prompt delivery of special handling code, classified message traffic, and specifically designated messages for the commanding officer and the associated chain of command on ship or during shore duty. He served in the Navy until the end of World War II with his primary experience being in the Philippines where he was a part of the islands’ liberation forces.

Renee Routh Pritchard, 52, of Monterey, passed from this life on Wednesday, June 24, 2020.

She was born December 29, 1967, in Alexandria.

Services were held at 10 a.m., Friday, June 26, at the chapel of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home of Jena.

Charles Benjamin Berry, 71, a former Jena resident, departed this life on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 following a brief illness.

He was a resident of Holly Lake Ranch in Wood County, Texas at the time of his death.

Charlie was born December 10, 1948 in Oakdale, Louisiana to C. W. Berry, Jr. and Helen E. Berry. He attended public schools in Oakdale, graduating from Oakdale High School in 1965.

Following graduation he attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. His education was interrupted by a tour in the U.S. Army, following which he returned to LSU, graduating from there in 1973.

Charlie spent years in the insurance business and taught courses for prospective agents and continuing education for many years. For a long time, he operated an insurance agency and represented a mail order firm from the present location of the Brisket House.