Obituaries

Garlon David Slay MANSFIELD, LA--Funeral services honoring the life of Garlon Slay, 70, was at 2:00 PM Monday, September 4, 2017 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Mansfield, LA with Reverend Larry Pridmore officiating. Burial followed at Highland Cemetery in Mansfield, LA. The family received friends at Rose-Neath Funeral Home on Monday, September 04, 2017 from 10AM till time of service. Garlon was born on January 14, 1947 to Jewel and Johnnie Cobb Slay in Pleasant Hill, Louisiana and entered into rest on September 2, 2017 in Mansfield, Louisiana. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister-in-law, Dorothy Slay; and nephew, Phillip Slay. Those left behind to cherish his memory are his brothers, Wain Slay, Dennis Slay and wife Marie; sister, Martha Whitlock and husband Frank; nephews, Michael Slay and wife Lori, Jim Slay and wife Nikki, Brandon Slay, Nathan Whitlock; and a numerous great nieces and great nephews.

Charlotte “Dianne” Anderson Rascoe Funeral services honoring the life of Dianne Rascoe, 71, were at 2:00 PM Sunday, September 3, 2017 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Mansfield, LA with Reverend David Permenter officiating. Burial followed at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Stanley, LA. The family received friends at Rose- Neath Funeral Home on Saturday, September 2, 2017 from 5PM till 7PM. Dianne was born on July 13, 1946 to Wilmer and Geneva Burlison Anderson in Logansport, LA and entered into rest on August 31, 2017. She is preceded in death by her parents. Dianne graduated from Northwestern State University in 1967 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. She worked for the DeSoto Parish Community Service Office as Office Manager and retired after 28 years of service. Those left behind to cherish her memory are her sons, Chal Rascoe, Jr.

Celebration of Life Services for Angela Ann Mosley Grooms, age 42, was held at 10:00 am Saturday September 2, 2017 at the First Baptist Church in Haughton, LA with Dr. Gevan Spinney officiating. Assisted by Dr. Scott Sullivan. Interment followed at Hill Crest Memorial Park in Haughton. The family received friends on Friday, September 1, 2017 from 5-7 pm at First Baptist Church Haughton. Angela was a loving, caring and devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister and grand-daughter. She was a friend to many and will be missed by all that knew her. She was always available to listen and share her thoughts in a friendly conversation. She enjoyed cooking, cake decorating, sewing, T-shirt designing, but her greatest joy was spending time with her family. A loyal and dedicated mother of the 4-H programs, she was always willing to assist and help with the children's show projects. Angela was originally of the Catholic faith, but was currently an active member of First Baptist Church Haughton.

Celebration of life and going home service for Helen Lee McFarland, 87, was held Monday, August 28, 2017 at the First Baptist Church of Coushatta at 11:00 AM with Reverend Larry Pridmore officiating and assisted by Reverend Lee Dickson. Interment followed at Springville Cemetery in Coushatta, LA. Visitation was held Sunday, August 27, 2017 at the Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Coushatta from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Mrs. McFarland was born September 5, 1929, in Mansfield, LA to Earl F. and Priscilla Callie Johnson and went home to be with her Lord and Savior on August 26, 2017, in Alexandria, LA. She was married to Owen Lee for 38 years being blessed with four children and grandchildren until his passing. She remarried Robert McFarland for 22 years being blessed with his children and grandchildren until his passing. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

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.