Obituaries

James Dosier Norris, 82, of Jena, passed away on Friday, March 10, 2017 in Jena.

He was born on Tuesday, September 18, 1934, in Jena, to the union of Bolton and Josie Coleman Norris.

Dosier was employed by Kendrick Grocery in Jena for many years, until it closed, and then was employed by LaSalle General Hospital as a security guard for 25 years before retiring.

Services were held at 2 p.m., Sunday, March 12, from the chapel of Kinner and Stevens Funeral Home in Jena with Revs. Gary Norris and Craig James officiating.

Interment followed in the Woodland Cemetery, east of Jena, under direction of Kinner and Stevens Funeral Home of Jena.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Bradford Norris; infant daughter and his parents.

David D. McKinney, 74, passed from this life on Sunday, April 9, 2017, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

He was born May 15, 1942 in Pittsburg, PA.

David was a Master Electrician. He held the position of Building Official in Bellaire, Texas in the 1980’s. He moved to Pampa, Texas and became Building Official and Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Pampa. He was also President of Texas State Plumbing Inspectors in 1996.

He was an active member of East Jena Baptist Church.

Services will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12, at East Jena Baptist Church with the Revs. Craig James, Johnnie Phillips and Gary Norris officiating.

Interment will follow at Woodland Cemetery, east of Jena, under direction of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home of Jena.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his twin sister, Dorothy Anderson; and a daughter, Allison Porterloyd.

Mary Flo Mannon, 81, of Jena, passed from this life on Thursday, April 6, 2017, at the La- Salle Nursing Home in Jena.

She was born July 7, 1935 in Booneville, Arkansas to the union of her parents, Herbert Henry and Ola Bell Witt Helton.

Mrs. Mannon was a homemaker.

Services were held at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 8, in the chapel of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home of Jena with Bro. Butch Farris officiating.

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

She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Lee Mannon; her parents; a sister, Helen Waters; grandsons, Timothy Lee Taunton and Brad Coon; and son-in-law, Robert L. Campbell.

Helen Louise Bruce Kendrick, 75, of Georgetown, passed away on Friday, April 7, 2017.

She was born Thursday, December 25, 1941 in Rochelle, to the union of her parents, Edgar and Eunice Brazzell Bruce.

Services were held at 2 p.m., Monday, April 10, at Georgetown Baptist Church with the Rev. Joe Bruce and Carl Griffith officiating.

Interment followed in the Georgetown Cemetery under direction of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and two brothers, Richard Bruce and James Bruce.

Survivors include her husband, Malcolm “Mutt” Kendrick; daughters, Kay Mitchell and husband Booger and Kelly Kendrick; her sons, Jeff Kendrick and wife Sissy, Jody Kendrick, and Jason Kendrick and wife Krystal; and her sister, Mary Brunson; 19 grandchildren, 17 great grand children, and three great great grandchildren.

Judy Diane (Bignar) Robertson, 67, of the Magnolia Community, passed away Friday, March 31, 2017 in her residence.

She was born October 19, 1949, in Jena to the union of Ira Leon and Verda M. Masters Bignar.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Ira Leon Bignar, Jr.; and a sister, Lana Doreen Price.

Survivors include her husband, Lloyd Edward Robertson; a daughter, Nichole Cowan; a son, Eric Robertson; and five grandchildren.

No services are scheduled at this time. Arrangement are under direction of Kinner and Stevens Funeral Home of Jena.

Otis R. Nugent, Sr., 70, passed away Saturday, April 1, 2017 at Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria.

His love of God, showed each day in his smile, his laughter, his silly songs and his praise of God even during the struggles of life.

Services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, April 5, at Meyers Bend Pentecostal Church of Harrisonburg with the Revs. Mark Johnson, Joel Ford and Bill Cotten officiating.

Interment will follow in the Harrisonburg Cemetery under direction of Magnolia Funeral Home of Alexandria.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Karen Sue Nugent; parents, Arthur and Hazel Nugent; sister, Rubye Nell Walton; and brother, Sammy Wayne Nugent.

Opal Jean McGee, 65, of Jena, passed away on Friday, March 31, 2017, in Urania.

She was born Tuesday, May 8, 1951 in Yazoo City, Mississippi to the union of Roy and Dorothy (Saxton) Walden.

Services were held at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 2, in the chapel Kinner and Stevens Funeral Home in Jena with the Revs. Jeff Morea and Harvey Blasingame officiating

Interment followed in the McGee Cemetery in Jena under direction of Kinner and Stevens Funeral Home of Jena.

She was preceded in death by a baby sister, Dorothy Marie Walden; her first husband, J. B. Webb; her daddy, Roy Walden; her second husband, W. A. “Boots” McGee; a daughter, Amy Lynn Webb; and a great-granddaughter, Layla Mae Webb.

Elsie Opal Prince Johnson, 90, of Good Pine, passed from this life at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 1, 2017, at the LaSalle Nursing Home of Jena.

She was born December 3, 1926 in Good Pine to the union of her parents, Alvin Lee Prince and Bama Eviline Dees Prince.

Mrs. Johnson was a member of Good Pine Baptist Church and a lifelong resident of Good Pine. She held numerous jobs in her life including working as a switch board operator, working at the Strand Theater in Jena and at the Water Works office in Good Pine.

She possessed a strong faith in God, which kept her grounded and a genuine love for people and fun.

Services were held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 4, in the chapel of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home of Jena with the Revs. Tommy Prince and Brandon Poole officiating.

Interment followed in the Belah Cemetery in the Belah Community under direction of Hixson Brothers, Inc. of Jena.

Leroy Gibson, 88, of Jena, passed from this life on Wednesday, March 29, 2017, in the LaSalle Nursing Home of Jena.

He was born October 14, 1928 in Summerville to the family of Roy and Hazel Keene Gibson.

Mr. Gibson worked as a motorman in the oilfield and was a member of East Jena Baptist Church.

Services were held at 10 a.m., Friday, March 31, in the chapel of Kinner and Stevens Funeral Home of Jena with the Revs. Todd Norris, Jimmy Keene and Craig James officiating.

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

His wife of 57½-years, Shirley Edwards Gibson; sister and brother-in-law, Myrna and Lonnie Taylor; and his parents preceded him in death.

William Hill Coleman, 88, of Olla, passed from this life on Wednesday, March 29, 2017, at the St. Frances Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria.

He was born March 17, 1929 in Sicily Island to the union of his parents, John and Ada Punchard Coleman.

Mr. Coleman was a devoted husband, a good daddy and loving father. He was a strong, kind man who lived for the Lord. He never met a stranger and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Services were held at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 1, at the chapel of Riser Funeral Home in Olla with Bro. Willie Cripps officiating.

Interment followed in the Wilbanks Cemetery near Summerville under direction of Riser Funeral Home of Olla.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three daughters, Geneva Lou Collins, Audrey Jewel Coleman Long and Mary Elaine Coleman; two grandchildren, Cherie Coleman and Milton Long; and several brothers and sisters.