Larry Everett Weathersby passed away at his residence in Stockton, AL, on March 2, 2005. He was 61 years old and brother of Linda Womack of Orange. A memorial service will be at North Orange Baptist Church on March 19, at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Lynn Ashcraft officiating. Interment will follow with military honors at Forest Lawn Cemetery in West Orange. Family will greet friends from 1:00 p.m. until the service. He had worked for Pacific Bell Telephone Co. in California for 16 years before moving to Alabama. He served as a deputy for 12 years with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department in Alabama and had worked as an electrician’s helper and a security guard in the last several years. Weathersby served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. He is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Marie Weathersby of Fairhope, AL; daughter, Cheryl Weathersby of Carmichael, CA; brother and sister-in-law, Keith and Susan Weathersby of Albuquerque, NM; sister and brother-in-law, Linda and James Womack of Orange; one nephew, two nieces and two great-nieces. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society by calling 800-227-2345.
Doris Rae King Ansley, 63, of Orange, Texas, died Monday, March 7, 2005, at Pinehurst Nursing Home. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 12, 2005, at Claybar Funeral Home Chapel in Orange. Officiating will be Reverend Gary P. Wheeler of First United Pentecostal Church in Orange. A Graveside service and burial will follow at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, at Evans Community Cemetery in Evans, Louisiana.Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home in Orange. Doris was born on June 9, 1941 in Merryville, Louisiana. She was the daughter of Jesse and Molly (Shepherd) King. She was a life long resdient of Orange and a member of First Church of Orange. She filled many roles in her family; sister, aunt, mother and grandmother. Everyone who knew her loved her. She was truly the sweetest, kindest, most loving person in the world. She will be forever missed. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bob Ansley and sisters, Charlene Culver and Marguerite Waits. Those left to cherish her memory are her son and daughter-in-law, Rick and Charlotte Waldrep; step-son and wife, Eugene and Ann Pringle; step-daughter and husband, Carol Wynn and Richard Kibodeaux; three grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; nephews and nieces, Gary and Kris Rowland, Terry and Jackie Johnson, Pam and Kenn Harton, Darlene and Fred Baker, Estra Schmidt, Mardi Ruegge, Jesse and Janice Waits, Shelby and Ginger, Roland and Suzan, Lonie and Sharon; all their children and grandchildren; many scores of friends that loved her. The family would like to give a special thank you to the wonderful people with Southeast Texas Hospice, who lovingly took care of Doris.
Dorris P. Miller, 75 of Orange, died Wednesday, March 9, 2005, at her residence. Born to Will Felix and Palestine (Paul) Powell she was a member of Little Cypress Baptist Church. She worked as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell and Orange Bank and was a coordinator for O.C.A.R.C. Meals on Wheels. Funeral services will be Sunday, March 13, 2005 at 2:00 P.M. in the Dorman Funeral Home Chapel with The Reverend David Turner, officiating. Interment in Wilkinson Cemetery, Orange. Visitation will be Saturday 4:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. at the funeral home. She was preceded in death by her parents. Survivors include husband, Robert L. Miller, sons, Robert Warren Miller, Beaumont, William Keith Miller, Lees Summit, Missouri, daughters, Sheryl LeJeune, Scott, Louisiana, Gayle Ann Leger, Mauriceville, Barbara Sue Richard, Orange, brothers, Douglas Powell, Lawrence Powell, both of Orange, sisters, Dell Hannah, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Laverne Simmons, Orange, grandchildren, Tina Slaughter, Bobbi Miller, Mallory Miller, Madison Miller, Dakoda Dillard, Jordan Miller, Samantha Richard, Chad Richard and Phillip Richard. The family would like to offer special thanks to Southeast Texas Hospice. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Joyful Noise Choir. Family suggests contributions be made to Little Cypress Baptist Church Building Fund or Hospice of Southeast Texas.
Bill McGrath, 67, of Mauriceville, Texas, died Sunday, March 6, 2005, at his residents. Graveside services will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 11, 2005, at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Orange. Officiating will be Mr. Anthony Shue from House of Prayer in Mauriceville. Visitation will be 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home in Orange.
Pansy Conway, 76, of Orange died March 8, 2005, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Port Arthur. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. Thursday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Reverend Joseph P. Daleo officiating. Entombment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Visitation will begin at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Mrs. Conway was born in Iota, Louisiana and resided in Orange since 1957. She was a retired bank teller for Orange Bank. She was also a member of The Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW Post 2775. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Amantha Caillouet and brothers, Bobby Caillouet and Francis Caillouet. She is survived by her husband, William D. Conway of Orange; daughter and son-in-law, Glenda and Larry Vincent of Bridge City; sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Patricia Conway of Port Arthur and Randy and Melodi Conway of Orange; and nine grandchildren. Serving as pallbearers will be her grandsons, Andy Conway, Kevin Vincent, Robbie Conway, Cody Conway, Kirk Vincent and Patrick Flowers. Honorary pallbearer will be her granddaughter, Kim Vincent.
Raylin Johnston, 60, of McLewis Community died March 8, 2005, at Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospital in Orange. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday at Claybar Funeral Home Chapel in Orange. Officiating will be Reverend Lindsey Smith, pastor of St. John United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Autumn Oaks Memorial Park. Masonic Graveside services will be provided by the Masonic Temple #1345 in Bridge City. Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Born in Beaumont and a former resident of West Orange, Mr. Johnston resided in the McLewis Community for the past 30 years. He was a retired principal for Orangefield Jr. High School. He was also a U.S. Army veteran having served during the Vietnam Era. He is survived by his former wife and companion, Caran Johnston; daughter, Marie Johnston both of McLewis Community; brother and sister-in-law, Dale and Judy Johnston of Bedford; nephews, Todd Johnston of Austin and Greg Johnston of Washington, DC; nieces, Tracey Matherne and Dena Iden; aunt, Morine Carroll of Houston; grandson, Josh Webb of Orange; four step-children and six step-grandchildren. Serving as Pallbearers will be Dexter Bassinger, Charles Donnard, Jesse Fremont, Mike Gentry, J.D. Quarles, Philip Welch and Roger Felter.
Blum "Sonny" Smith, Jr., 73, of Orange, Texas, died Sunday, March 6, 2005, at Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospital in Orange. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 9, 2005, at Claybar Funeral Home Chapel in Orange. Officiating will be Reverend Otis Broussard, Reverend Harold Nazworth and Reverend Kenneth Smith. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Orange. Visitation will begin at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, at the funeral home in Orange. Mr. Smith was born in Beaumont, Texas on April 21, 1931. He was the son of Blum Smith, Sr. and Annie Laura (Geralds) Smith. He was a veteran of the United States Army, serving in Korea. He worked at Equitable Bag in Orange and was also a member of Painters Local #130 of Houston. Preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Rosanne Sarth, Barbara Kelley, Annie Laura Cole and Josephine Cormier Alford; brother, Melvin James Smith, Sr. and numerous nieces and nephews. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Frances Smith of Orange; sons and daughters-in-law, Kenneth and Patricia Smith of Orange, Rickey and Sharon Smith of Fairmont, David and Sandra Smith, Blum Smith, III and Marty all of Orange; son, Russell Smith of Fairmont; daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis and Thomas Neil, Sr. of Orange; seventeen grandchildren; one great-grandchild; expecting second great-grandchild; brother, Billy Ray Smith, sister and brother-in-law, Rosella and Richard Fusilier all of Orange. Serving as Pallbearers are Sonny Smith, T.J. Neil, Rickey Lynn Smith, Jr., Jackie Cormier, Joe Garcia, Melvin James Smith, Jr. and Jason Gallien. Honorary Pallbearers are Nicole Smith, Heather Gallien and Lea Smith.
Ozia "Pete" Yocum, Sr., 79, of West Orange, Texas, died Saturday, March 5, 2005, at his home. Visitation will begin at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, 2005, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Funeral services will be at Chaddick Funeral Home in DeRidder, Louisiana. Mr. Yocum was born on June 6, 1925, in Rosepine, Louisiana. He was the son of Marion Frances and Mable Ann (Hildrebrandt) Yocum. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Navy. He retired from Livingston Shipyard as a welder. He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Smith; and two brothers and two sisters. Those left to cherish his memory are his daughter and son-in-law, Vicky and Duane Woods of Rosepine, Louisiana; son and daughter-in-law, Andy and Susan Yocum of Natchitoches, Louisiana; grandchildren, Ralph Woods of Chopin, LA, Brandon Woods, Warren Woods of Natchitoches, LA, Jared Graves of Provencal, LA, Justin Graves of Rosepine, LA, Katey Yocum, Melissa Yocum, Kyle Yocum and Chris Berry all of Natchitoches, LA, and Nicole Vaughn of Shreveport, LA; four great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and brother, Leeland Yocum of Sulphur, LA.
