Obituaries

Gloria Jean Wilkerson Patterson PELICAN, LA--Funeral services honoring the life of Jean Patterson, 77, will be at 10:00 AM Friday, August 25, 2017 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Mansfield, LA with Reverend Mack Black officiating. Burial will follow at Pelican Cemetery in Pelican, LA. The family will receive friends at Rose-Neath Funeral Home on Friday, August 25, 2017 from 9AM till time of service. Jean was born on December 4, 1939 to A.V. and Eva Mae Davis Wilkerson in Provencal, LA and entered into rest on August 21, 2017 in Pelican, LA. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, and grandmother. She was the past President of Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority, a member of the Pelican Baptist Church, and she worked for the DeSoto Parish School Board as a teacher and a librarian where she retired after 30 years of service. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Charles Cook, 83, of Grand Cane, Louisiana, passed away Tuesday, August 22, 2017, at his residence. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, August 25, 2017, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center with Bro. Ron McClellon and Bro. Reginald Deleon officiating. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center. Visitation will be held prior to the service, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Mr. Cook was born August 30, 1933, in Joaquin, to Aubrey “Buster” Cook and Mildred Etoille Parker Cook. He served in the Signal Corps of the United States Army during the Korean War.

CONVERSE, LA--Funeral services honoring the life of Robert Joseph (R.J.) Wates, Jr., 20, were held at 3:00 PM Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at Old Pisgah Baptist Church in Marthaville, LA with Reverend Dean Johnson officiating. Burial followed at Spring Ridge Cemetery in Pleasant Hill, LA. The family received friends at Old Pisgah Baptist Church on Tuesday, August 15, 2017 from 3PM until time of service. R.J. was born on August 4, 1997 in Shreveport, LA to Rosemary Brown Wates and Robert Joseph Wates, Sr., and entered into rest on August 13, 2017 in Converse, LA. He was preceded in death by his sister, Kelsi Marie Wates. Those left behind to cherish his memory are his parents; maternal grandfather, Hugh Harvey Brown, Jr.

Cecil Wayne Johnson, 81, of Baton Rouge passed away on August 16, 2017, at the St. Joseph Carpenter House in Baton Rouge. The tenth of eleven siblings, he was born October 7, 1935, in Henderson, Texas, to Virgil and Alma Brown Johnson. He attended Northwestern State University on a football scholarship and there met Paula Williams, to whom he was married for 59 years. He graduated with a bachelor's of science in math with minors in chemistry and physics. He then served in the Louisiana Army National Guard from 1958-1961. He later worked in the oil fields in Lafayette and the railroad industry in Mansfield before establishing a successful construction business in Baton Rouge. He is survived by his wife Paula; daughters Lisa Sisson (Thomas) and Karin Pardue (Hugh "Butch"); grandchildren Thomas (Katy), Ryan (Caroline), Kathryn, and Grace Sisson and Brett and Lauren Pardue; great grandchildren Jubilee, Everett, Hudson, and Vera Sisson; and multiple nieces and nephews.

MANSFIELD, LA--Funeral services honoring the life of Darla Hensley Gortney, 52, was held at 3:00 PM Saturday, August 19, 2017 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Logansport, LA with Reverend Bruce Kunkel and Reverend Robert Remedies officiating. Burial followed at Prude Cemetery in Mansfield, LA. The family received friends at Rose- Neath Funeral Home in Logansport, LA on Friday, August 18, 2017 from 6PM till 8PM. Darla was born on August 8, 1965 to Johnnie Faye Booker and Curtis Neal Hensley entered into rest on August 16, 2017.

CONVERSE, LA--Funeral services honoring the life of Mr. Bernis Bossier, Sr., 80, were held 10:00 AM Thursday, August 17, 2017 at Union Springs Baptist Church in Converse, LA with Reverend Richard Enterkin and Mr. Bossier’s grandson, Ethan Bossier officiating. Burial followed at Union Springs Cemetery in Converse, LA. Visitation was held at Union Springs Baptist Church on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 from 5PM till 10PM. Bernis was born on October 31, 1936 to Lottie L. Hatcher and Obie Leo Bossier in Converse, LA and entered into rest on August 14, 2017 in Mansfield, LA. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Brenda Kay Bass Bossier; daughter, Shelia Kay Bossier Collier, four brothers, Norman Bossier, Obie Leo Bossier, Jr., Jasper Roy Bossier, Willie Ray Bossier; and two sisters, Helen Stacy and Marguerite Annie Williams. Those left behind to cherish his memory are his son, B.J. Bossier and wife Daune of Logansport, LA; brother, Bernard R.

Our Mother, Laura Anne Fletcher Perrett, of Logansport, Louisiana, was born on April 3, 1934, to Hugh Oliver and Robbie Singletary Fletcher and died August 12, 2017, at the age of 83. Mom lived most of her life in Logansport, where she was co-owner of Perrett’s Food Store and Shelter Insurance. She received her Bachelor’s in Education From Stephen F. Austin State University and her Master’s Plus 30 from Louisiana State University. She was a 6th. grade and later a 3rd. grade teacher at Central School Corporation for 11 years. After retirement from Central she taught in the Desoto Parish School System, for 20 years. Mom remained active in many organizations, that included Order Of Eastern Star, Delta Kappa Gamma and Phi Kappa Phi Sororities, Friends Of Desoto Parish Library, Friends Of 4-H, Member of Logansport First Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School for many years.

JOAQUIN, TX--Funeral services honoring the life of Herbert O.McMellon, 94, were held at 11:00AM Saturday, August 12, 2017 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Logansport, LA with Brother Tommy McMellon officiating.Burial followed at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Center, TX. The family received friends at Rose-NeathFuneral Home on Saturday, August12, 2017 from 10AM till time of service.Herbert was born on May 14,1923 to Odis and Della ButlerMcMellon and entered into rest on August 9, 2017 at his residence.

Graveside services honoring the life of Betty Creech, 89, were held at2:00 PM Friday, July 28, 2017 at Mt.Olivet Cemetery in Stanley, LA withTommy McMellon officiating.Betty was born on January 2, 1928to Client and Hedwedge Deville and entered into rest on July 26, 2017. She was preceded in death by her parents,and sister, Cassie Benoit.Those left behind to cherish her memory are her daughters, Becky Parker and husband Keith of Stanley,LA and Kay Booker and husband Brady of Fayetteville, AR; sister,Nezzie Broussard of Suwanee, GA; grandchildren, Trampas Chad Parker and wife Sherri of Okmulgee, OK, Heith Parker and wife Barbara of Stonewall, LA, Blake Booker and wife Carla of Leavenworth, KS and Kandyce Pace and Jeremy of Fayetteville, AR; and nine great grandchildren.

Funeral services honoring the life of Jonathan Litton, Sr., 34, were at 11:00 AM Monday, August 7, 2017 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Mansfield, LA with Reverend Bob Latham and Reverend David Permenter officiating. Burial followed at Allen Cemetery in Mansfield, LA. The family received friends at Rose- Neath Funeral Home on Sunday, August 6, 2017 from 4PM till 9PM. Jonathan was born on December 27, 1982 in Shreveport, LA to Donna and Thomas Litton, Jr. and entered into rest on August 3, 2017 in Marshall, TX. He was preceded in death by his mother, Donna Evans Litton. Those left behind to cherish his memory are his father, Thomas Litton, Jr.