Dawn Lezlie Kennedy Buteaux
(September 23, 1961 - July 9, 2012)
Dawn Lezlie Kennedy Buteaux was born on September 23, 1961, and went to be with our Lord and her mother on July 9, 2012. She was a native of Baton Rouge and a graduate of Tara High School, class of 1979. Dawn Lezlie was a beloved creation of God. Her life was blessed by all those who knew her and loved her. She was beloved as a daughter, granddaughter, sister, mother, aunt, niece and grandmother. She was an avid reader and intelligent, dedicated to and diligent in her work. She had a keen sense of humor and a distinctive, joyful laugh. She lived her life day by day and rarely looked back. She is preceded in death by her mother, Virginia Dare West and survived by her father, Robert "Sam" Kennedy, her daughter, Amanda Kate Buteaux, son Keith William Albers, his spouse, Jessica and their daughter Madison. She has three sisters, Tanya Kennedy, her son, Michael Sullivan; Monette Tullier Wagoner, her daughters, Cheramie Faith and Haylie D'nae; Rashel K. Deshotel, her husband, Mike and son, Mick; brother, Jarod Kennedy, his wife in California and many cousins, aunts and uncles. She will be missed by all who love her. Her final resting place will be with her Buteaux Family in New Iberia, LA.
James "Mark" Hardwick
(August 29, 1970 - July 21, 2012)
He was a resident of Norwood, LA. and a carpenter with Sagley Construction. A graveside service will be held on Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 10:00 am at Masonic Cemetery in Clinton conducted by Rev. Tony Hand. He is survived by his former wife of 15 years, Milissa Garrett Hardwick, Son, Bryan Hardwick of St. Joseph, LA, Father, Herman Hilton "Buddy" Hardwick of Norwood and brothers, Herman Hilton Hardwick, Jr and Michael Ray Hardwick and wife Chantel of New Florence, MO. He was preceded in death by his mother, Ruby Jo Hallmark and sister, Lori Hardwick.
Verlia Noel Wyble
(Died July 24, 2012)
Verlia Noel Wyble, 88, passed away July 24, 2012.She was a resident of Walker, LA.
She is survived by two daughters, Geraldine W. Hobgood and husband Larry of Slaughter, LA, Joan Wyble Duncan and husband David of Mt. Herman, LA, three sons, Charles Wyble, Sr. and wife Virginia “Gena” of Denham Springs, LA, Eugene “Gene” Wyble and wife Brenda, Cherokee Village, AR, and Ben R. Wyble of Head of Island, LA. Two sisters, Eva Savoie of Opelousas, LA and Beverly Cortez of Pt. Barre, LA, thirteen grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and 7 great great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her loving husband of 38 years, Joseph William Wyble, parents, three brothers and 1 sister.
Visiting will be at Charlet Funeral Home, Zachary, Thursday July 26, 2012 from 5pm till 9pm with a Rosary at 6pm and will continue on Friday July 27, 2012 from 9am until service time at 11am. Burial will be at Hillcrest Cemetery, Baker, LA.
Pallbearers will be Charles Wyble, Jr., Charles Wyble III, Larry Hobgood, Jr., Jamie Hobgood, Joey Duncan and Tyler Duncan. Honorary Pallbearers are Ramey Wyble and Jeremy Wyble.
Roberta Chase Freeman
(September 26, 1922 - July 26, 2012)
Freeman, Roberta "Bertie" Chase, 89, died on July 26, 2012 at the Carpenter House in Baton Rouge. She worked in personnel at Villa Feliciana Complex for 30 years. She was a resident of Norwood and native of Sicily Island. Visiting will all be at Norwood Presbyterian Church on Friday from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm and on Saturday from 9:00 am until service time at 11:00 am conducted by Rev. W. Edmund Carver. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery in Norwood. She is survived by her sons, Ed Freeman, Jr, and Jerry Freeman, Sisters, Emily Chase, Grace Chase, Helene Gill and husband Bobby, one brother, Henry Chase and wife Gwen, two grandchildren, Thomas Freeman and Troy Freeman and two great grandchildren, Megan McGrew and Sarah Freeman and one great great grandchild, Raelyn McGrew. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin Freeman, Sr., two infant sons, Parents, Otis and Pansy Chase, two brothers, Otis Chase, Jr and Sam Chase, Sr and a sister, Florence Ann Chase and grandson, Timothy Paul Freeman. Pallbearers will be John Chase, Jack Jones, Jr., Jack Jones III, T-Ray Freeman, Troy Freeman and Mike Levert. She was member of St. Albans Eastern Star, lifelong member and treasurer of Norwood Presbyterian Church.
John C. Norris
(June 26, 1950 - July 24, 2012)
John C. Norris, 62, loving husband, father and grandfather, died July 24, 2012 at Wesley Medical Center in Hattiesburg, MS. He was an account executive at Thompson Equipment Company and a resident of Zachary, LA and a native of Hattiesburg, MS. He is survived by his devoted wife of 39 ˝ years, Virginia Donavan Norris, two sons, James David Norris and wife Nikki and Jason Donavan Norris and wife Emily, father, John Daniel Norris, sister, Susan DuBose and husband Paul, two brothers, Edward Norris and David Norris, four grandchildren, John Donavan Norris, Caecilia Norris, Catherine Norris and Rebekah Norris, granddaughter/daughter who has spent her life in our home and care. Preceded in death by mother, Helen Lucille Gimsley Norris. He served in the Army National Guard and was a member of Gideons International, active member of Plains Presbyterian Church, spent many hours coaching baseball and coached basketball with Plains Presbyterian youth. Visiting will be Saturday, July 28, 2012 from 11am until service time at 3pm at Plains Presbyterian Church conducted by Rev. Bob Wojohn and Rev. Todd Lowery. Burial will be in Plains Cemetery, Zachary, LA. In Lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to Gideons International, Baker Camp, P.O. Box 276, Baker, LA 70704-0276
Leslie G. Lancaster "Les"
(December 15, 1947 - July 27, 2012)
U.S. Veteran
Leslie G. Lancaster, 64, died Friday, July 27, 2012, at Baton Rouge General Medical Center. He was a resident of Zachary and native of Gorman, Texas. He was employed with Florida Gas Pipeline. Visiting will be at Charlet Funeral Home Inc., Zachary, on Wednesday, Aug. 1, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. There will be a graveside service at Galilee Baptist Church Cemetery, Zachary, on Thursday, Aug. 2, at 10 a.m. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Anne Steadham Lancaster; two sons, Colin T. Campbell and wife Jodi, and E. Casey Campbell and wife Wendy; sister, Donnell Daniel and husband Joe; and grandchildren, Micaela Anne Campbell, Katie Jane Campbell, Caleb T. Campbell, Carrie Grace Campbell and Noah Lancaster Campbell. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil Wesley Lancaster and Margie Hill Lancaster. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. He graduated from the University of Alaska. He loved carpentry, specializing in Shaker furniture, and vintage farm equipment and tractors.
C.O. "Mac" McKerley
(December 25, 1924 - July 24, 2012)
Born in Miller, Oklahoma, on December 25, 1924, Calvin Odell McKerley, known by most as "Mac" or "C.O.," had his family convinced that heaven was in the foothills of the Kiamichi Mountains in Southeast Oklahoma and the waters of the Blue Hole on Davenport Creek had healing powers. On July 24, 2012, surrounded by his loving family, he passed from this earth at the age of 87. Selfless and dedicated to his family, he worked hard all of his life to see that they were taken care of. He left behind a legacy of love and faith that will sustain his family through this difficult time. Always an "Okie" at heart, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Husbandry at Oklahoma A & M before accepting a position at Marydale Farms in Louisiana. While there, he said he made the best decision of his life. He went to "check out those new teachers" at the Homecoming Dance in Jackson, Louisiana, and met the love of his life and wife of 59 years, Margaret "Chee Chee" Langford. In 1954 he took a job with Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service. While working for the Extension Service he earned Master of Science in Marketing and Animal Science from Louisiana State University. He retired from Cooperative Extension in 1987 after serving for 33 years. He was a World War II veteran, a 32nd Degree Mason, Scottish Rite and Shriner. Mac used his seemingly endless desire to work hard to benefit two things he loved , children and horses. Early in his career, he developed the 4-H horse program in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, which eventually started the statewide 4-H Club Horse program in Louisiana. In the 1960s, he was named the first Horse Specialist with the U.S. Agriculture Extension service. A few years later he became the first to manage the Southern Regional 4-H Horse Show. He was considered a visionary in the equine industry and dedicated much of his working years to the development of horsemanship youth programs. He is credited with creating the rules and regulations for what became the American Junior Quarter Horse Association (AJQHA.) In 2000, Mac was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Hall of Fame, honoring his many years of service to the industry. He served in various leadership positions for Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association, the Louisiana Quarter Horse Association, the Louisiana Thoroughbred Association, and the Dixie Jubilee. He owned, bred and raised racehorses. His children will never forget the years of advice, support and loyalty he provided. In many ways, his grandchildren thought of him as a modern day hero: rugged masculinity, leadership strength, integrity, and fierce loyalty to family and friends. He had an attitude of, " why wait till tomorrow if it can be done today", and was a consistent example of life lived the right way. C.O. will be fondly remembered by his wife, Margaret Langford McKerley; their children: Nannelle "Nonny" Noland of Ragley, Louisiana; Nathaniel McKerley (wife Gina) of Pensacola, Florida; and Margaret "Libby" McKerley of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; their 7 grandchildren: Jerry "T.J." Noland (wife Kacey) of Houston, Texas; Margaret Landry (fiancé Michael Pernici) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Kate Landry of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Abigail McKerley of Phoenix, Arizona; Zachary McKerley, Hannah McKerley, and Grace McKerley of Pensacola, Florida; their 2 great-grandchildren: Kassidy Gunn and Braden Gunn of Houston, Texas; and siblings Boyce L. Couch (wife Betty) of Antlers, Oklahoma; Sidney D. Couch (wife Rosie) of Antlers, Oklahoma; Carole C. Martin (husband Dooley) of Antlers, Oklahoma; and sister-in-Law Patsy Couch McClure, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his father, Cleburne McKerley; mother, Thelma N. Couch; step-father, O. L. Couch; and brother, Harold D. Couch. A celebration of his life will be held on Tuesday, July 31 at 3 p.m. at Baker Presbyterian Church, 3015 Groom Road, Baker, Louisiana, with Rev. Charlene Heaton and Rev. Ted Roeling officiating. Visitation will precede the memorial from 1-3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations be sent to the LSU Foundation 4-H Endowment, 102 Efferson Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 ; the American Quarter Horse Association Foundation, PO Box 200, Amarillo, Texas 79168 or Baker Presbyterian Church, 3015 Groom Road, Baker LA, 70714.
"If the story's told, only heaven knows.
But his hat seemed to me like an old halo.
And although his wings, they were never seen.
I thought that he walked on water." Lyrics by Randy Travis.
