Obituaries

Donna Taylor Volentine, 64, of Grayson, and a native of Urania, passed from this life on Sunday, March 10, 2019, at her residence surrounded by her family following an extended illness.

She was born March 29, 1954 at Urania to the union of her parents, Jean and Daigo Taylor.

Donna’s career spanned some thirty-six years as she was a special needs teacher in the Caldwell Parish School System. She also worked extensively with the Caldwell Parish Recreation Center starting in 1976. Donna was one of the truest fans of all LSU Sports. Donna truly “Bled Purple and Lived Gold.” To know Donna was to love her and she will be missed by all who knew her.

Graveside services were held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 12, at the Welcome Home Cemetery, east of Grayson, with the Revs. Jeff Masters and Courtney Dunn officiating.

Interment followed under direction of Riser Funeral Home of Columbia.

Juanita Grace Fife Wall, 100, of Tullos, passed from this life on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. Throughout the 100 years, 5 months and 7 days of her life, she was a living inspiration to her family and friends.  

Juanita Grace Fife was born October 5, 1918 to the union of Mack William and Alma Magnolia McKnight Fife, near Baskin. Her early years were spent in and around Franklin Parish where her father was a farmer.

In the 1920’s oil was discovered in northwest LaSalle Parish. Her father was hired to move drilling rigs and equipment from Sterlington to the new field.  At that time the family relocated near Urania.  In 1931, Juanita’s mother passed away.  The loss of her mother and growing up during The Great Depression would instill in her a passionate determination that she would carry throughout her life.

Cecil Boyer Stringer, 91, of Natchitoches, and a native of LaSalle Parish, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Thursday, March 14, 2019.

He was born August 6, 1927, in Jena, to the union of his parents, Myrtle and Oliver Stringer.

Cecil was a World War II veteran.  After his discharge from the U. S. Army, Cecil and his wife, June, moved from Jena to Natchitoches in 1951. He started his own business as a candy salesman.  He loved his work and his customers.  

Cecil retired at age 85.  He was a member of Trinity Baptist Church and served as Deacon for many years.  He was a good family man and loved the Lord.  He will be missed by his family and many friends.

Services were held at 2 p.m., Monday, March 18, 2019, at Trinity Baptist Church in Natchitoches with Bro. Ron Thompson officiating.

Interment followed in Memory Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches under the direction of Blanchard-St. Denis of Natchitoches.  

Delton Lee Nugent, 82, of Olla, passed from this life on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Winnfield Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Winnfield.

He was born January 3, 1937 in Olla to the union of his parents, Hershel Nugent and Nora Mae Snody Nugent.

Mr. Nugent was a truck driver for many years until his retirement, and he always loved going fishing and hunting.

Services were held at 1 p.m., Monday, March 11, from the Olla chapel of Riser Funeral Home with Rev. Willie Beaubouef officiating.

Interment followed in the Little Star Cemetery near Kelly under direction of Riser Funeral Home of Olla.

He was preceded in death by two wives, Willie Mae Nugent and Dorothy Lewis Nugent; his daughter, Patty Hudson; step-son, Tommy Sikes; his parents; and a sister, Brenda McClary.

Joe L. Johnson, 72, of Urania, passed from this life on Saturday, March 16, 2019, at his home.

He was born April 28, 1946 in Winnsboro to the union of his parents, Joseph F. Johnson and Gertrude Lee Johnson.

Joe had long attended Urania Methodist Church. He loved the outdoors and could often be found golfing, hunting or fishing. He also enjoyed bowling. He loved life and made life fun for those around him.

Services were held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, March 19, at Urania United Methodist Church with the Revs. Aaron Carpenter and Denver McBroom officiating.

Interment followed in the Urania Cemetery under direction of Riser Funeral Home of Olla.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his grandson, Joseph Lance Johnson.

Betty Flo Cassels Wyles Powell, 72, of Columbia, passed from this life to her heavenly home on Friday, March 15, 2019 at the Glenwood Medical Center in West Monroe.

She was born March 30, 1946 at Columbia to the union of her parents, Charles Murphy Cassels and Lillie Mae Harrelson Cassels.

Flo was a member of First Baptist Church of Columbia. She loved her family and her church family. Her family always knew she was praying for them daily and she was faithful in reading her bible. Flo loved to travel, shop and cook. She collected dishes and recipes, which she was committed to passing on to her children and grandchildren.

She worked for years compiling and publishing a book of recipes to pass down to her family. It will be cherished always as it was not only a book of recipes but of family history and stories of her life.

Ronnie Lucas, 62, of Jonesville, passed from this life on Thursday, March 14, 2019, at his home.

He was born Saturday, October 27, 1956 in Jonesville to the union of his parents, James Dennis Lucas and Deloris Lucas.

Services were held at 2 p.m., Monday, March 18, at Utility Baptist Church near Jonesville with the Revs. James Foster and Dustin Robertson officiating.

Interment followed in the Lucas Cemetery of Jonesville under direction of Magnolia Funeral Home of Alexandria.

He was preceded in death by his parents; twin brother, Donnie Lucas; nieces, LeAnn Smith, Beth Wright and Susanne Cay; nephew, John Cay; three sisters-in-law, JoAnne Wright, Aileen Cay and Brenda Warren; father-in-law, J.W. Jones; and best friend, Howard “Charlie Brown” Ivey.

Richard Eddie Dearmon, 87, of Greenwood, Louisiana, peacefully passed from this life surrounded by his children on Sunday, March 10, 2019, following a brief illness.

He was born in Sikes, Louisiana on May 18, 1931, to William Edgar Dearmon and Anna Eliza Dearmon.

Eddie was a graduate of Urania High School. He was a Korean War Veteran, having served in the U.S. Navy where he drove amphibious landing craft transporting troops and equipment.

Mr. Dearmon spent over 40 years as a manager and owner of retail department stores in New Iberia, DeRidder, Jena, and other cities in Louisiana. He was the owner of the Ben Franklin Family Center in Jena, Louisiana from 1974-1983.

Eddie was a loving husband, a beloved father, and a doting grandfather and great grandfather. He was an active member of First Baptist Church, Greenwood, Louisiana.

Hazle C. McLendon, 89, of Summerville, passed from this life on Friday, March 1, 2019.

She was born August 27, 1929 in Harrisonburg and she was a member of Summerville Baptist Church.

Graveside services were held at 2 p.m., Monday, March 4, at the Summerville Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Pete McCarty officiating.

Interment followed under direction of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home of Jena.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ellis McLendon; mother, Tena Crane; and sisters, Eula Lane, and Ruby Coon.

Those left to cherish in her memory include her sons, Danny McLendon and wife Eloise of Manifest, and Mike McLendon and wife Rose of Dover, AR; daughters, Patti Johnson and husband Jimmy and Kandy McLendon, all of Ball; grandchildren, Jory Randall and Rana Randall, both of Ball, Stephanie Grantham of Canton, MS, and Misty Rogers of Manchester, GA.; and her lifelong best friend Minnie Brown of Summerville.

Debby Nix Gregory, 71, of Jena, was received into Heaven on Friday, March 8, 2019, at LaSalle General Hospital in Jena.

She was born on August 21, 1947 to John Wade Nix, Jr. and Berdina McNeely Nix in Alexandria.

She was a graduate of Jena High School and received a degree in Computer Science from Nicholls State University.

She worked as a legal secretary for many years before working as a programmer and as a secretary/bookkeeper in the oil industry. She attended Oak Grove Baptist Church and was involved in the AWANA program, teaching children how to “hide God’s Word in their hearts.”

She met the love of her life, Terry Gregory, in 1994, and would have celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary in May.

Mrs. Gregory was preceded in death by her parents, J.W. Nix, Jr. and Berdina Nix; one brother, Robert Wade “Buddy” Nix; and a great nephew, Tristan Wade Allen.