Obituaries

Joy Faye Owens Trunzler, 81, of Harrisonburg, passed from this life on Wednesday, November 27, 2019.

She was born October 5, 1938 in Alexandria, to Jack and Iva Clark Owens. In 1945, the Owens built a home in Harrisonburg, and Joy grew up in Harrisonburg and graduated from Harrisonburg High School.

While in high school she played basketball on the Harrisonburg girls’ team like many young girls of her age. Joy graduated in 1960 from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology, chemistry and physics.

In the summer of 1984 Joy returned to live in Harrisonburg and began working for the State of Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Community Services as a child abuse investigator. Joy continued to work in that office until her retirement and during her tenure had a positive impact of the lives of countless children in both Catahoula and Concordia Parishes.

Rose Marie Mitchell Neal Stokes, 88, of Rayville, passed from this life on Friday, November 22, 2019, in Rayville.

She was born January 20, 1931 in Manifest, the middle child of seven children and the last survivor of the siblings.

Services were held at 10 a.m., Monday, Nov. 25, at the Brown-Holley Funeral Chapel in Rayville with Dr. Alan Miller and Bro. Charles Ellzey officiating.

Interment followed in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery near Jena under direction of Brown-Holley Funeral Chapel of Rayville.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Rev. Russell Neal and Herman Stokes.

Ronnie Joseph Roden, 72, of Olla, entered eternal rest on Monday, November 25, 2019, at the Hardtner Medical Center in Urania.

He was born March 7, 1947.

Ronnie was a United States Army Veteran, having served in the Vietnam War and was a retired long-haul truck driver. He was a member of Standard Baptist Church and enjoyed fishing and gardening. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Services were held at 2 p.m., Friday, Nov. 29, at Standard Baptist Church near Olla with the Revs. Denver McBroom and Paul Nugent officiating.

Interment followed in the Chickasaw Cemetery, east of Olla, under direction of Rush Funeral Home of Pineville.

He was preceded in death by his father, Harvey Roden.

Veronica Lee, 66, of Jena, passed from this life on Monday, November 25, 2019.

She was born November 15, 1953 in Marksville to the union of her parents, Elphege Lachney and Mary Gaspard Lachney.

Services were held at 1 p.m., Friday, Nov. 29, in the chapel of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home of Jena with Father Jason officiating.

Interment followed in the Woodland Mausoleum, east of Jena, under direction of Hixson Brothers, Inc. of Jena.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and a sister, Ruby Turner.

Those left to cherish in her memory include her fiancé, Wesley Eubanks Sr; sons, Graig Lee of Jena, and Bruce Lee and wife Laura of Kentucky; daughter, Misty Lee of Jena; sisters, Jeanette Lachney of Mansura, and Dora Dozart of Marksville; four grandchildren, two step grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Allen Gregory, Wesley Eubanks, Sr., Wesley Eubanks Jr., and Scott Mc-Lendon.

Syble Lorene Pritchard Joy, 88, of Whitehall, passed from this life on Friday, November 29, 2019.

She was born June 14, 1931 in Archie.

Services were held at 11 a.m., Sunday, December 1, at Pritchard Baptist Church with the Revs. Daniel Breithaupt and Terry Doughty officiating.

Interment followed in the Pritchard Cemetery of Jena under direction of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home of Jena.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Joy of Rhinehart; father, Baxter Pritchard of Archie; mother, Lottie Crooks Pritchard of Archie; and daughter, Martha Sue Joy of Rhinehart.

Those left to cherish in her memory include her sons, Tommy Glen Joy and wife Marlene of Jena, Robert Joy and wife Paula of Jena, and Alan Joy and wife Christy of Nebo; daughter, Dottie Allen and husband Lonnie of Nebo; sister, Eula Deason of Jena; nine grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, one great great grandchild, and a host of nieces and nephews.

Murry Crawford, 66, of Jena, passed from this life on Saturday, November 30, 2019.

He was born November 9, 1953 in Ferriday, to the union of his parents, Charles Marvin Crawford and Alice Thompson Crawford.

Murry served his country in the United States Army during peacetime. He was employed by Justiss Oil Company until a motorcycle accident in 1980 left him disabled.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his daughter, Christy Beeson.

Those left to cherish in his memory include his daughter, Melissa Young and husband Dale of Pinehurst, TX; brother, Dennis Crawford and wife Calline of Olla; sisters, Sallie Teague and husband David, and Susan Hailey, all of Jena; six grandchildren; and one great grandchild.

Hedy Weatherly Butler, 77, of Jena, passed from this life Sunday night, December 1, 2019. Hedy was the widow of the late Bob Butler, owner of Butler Insurance Agency of Jena, who died in 2014. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, at Nolley Memorial Methodist Church in Jena. A complete obituary was not available at press time, but will be published next week. Arrangements are under the direction of Kinner and Stevens Funeral Home of Jena.

Kellie Elizabet Salmi, 56, of Alexandria, and formerly of Urania, passed from this life on Saturday, November 23, 2019. She was born May 21, 1963 to the union of Melvin Neal and Billie Marie Sweat Wilson of Urania, and was the youngest of six children. Kellie enjoyed cooking a Southern style cuisine for her family, enjoyed taking long rides down old southern back roads and enjoying the scenery. Her favorite football team was the New Orleans Saints, which she enjoyed watching with her husband, Robert. A memorial service was held Sunday, Nov. 24, in the chapel of Kinner and Stevens Funeral Home in Jena with Rev. Kendall Price, Chaplain, officiating. Interment will follow at a later time in a private family ceremony. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Karla Wilson Ruddell, and Janice Marie Wilson.

William Ezra Hudson,  60, of Urania, passed away on Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at LSU Medical Center of Shreveport.

Graveside services were held at 10 a.m., on Thursday, October 17, in the Hawthorne Cemetery in the Little Creek Community, under direction of Miller and Hill “The Funeral Directors” of Alexandria.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Ezra and Louise Hudson; and one sister, Elsie Lloyd.

Survivors include two sisters, Sarah Lofton of Jena and Edna Robbins (Walter) of Jena; ten nieces and nephews, fourteen great nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.   

We miss you Daddy… it’s been 20 years since you closed your eyes and left this earth. God called you home so suddenly, a part of us went away when you left. Daddy, you are absent from your body but your spirit is still with us, you are in our hearts. We miss your smiling face in our home and in the pulpit. You fought a good fight and you have finished your race. You will never be forgotten and you will forever be missed and will always be loved. We will meet again on the other side.

Rest in Peace Daddy.

Missing and loving you, Rose, Yvette, Trina, Ernest Jr., Josh, Bre, Xavien, EJ, Antwone, Ashton and Antioch Baptist Church