2019_07_24_Obits
Published 5:00 am Wednesday, July 24, 2019
John Wilton Alvin Benoit
Gertrude Boggs Brunson
Lynwood Colbert Burkhalter Jr.
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Joanne Smith Cloar
Rena Duhon Franks
Sudie Louise Gee
Larry Dean Hano
James Harold Jones Sr.
Jerry Allen Scalisi
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Rebecca Ann Spears
Dr. H. M. Stebbins, Colonel (Retired) USAF
Hilda Nixon Tezeno
Olivia Grace Winstead
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John Wilton Alvin Benoit
John Wilton Alvin Benoit, 77, of Lake Charles, died Sunday, July 21, 2019.
Mr. Benoit was a native of Cameron where he resided until Hurricane Rita. He has lived the past 13 years in Lake Charles. He was a graduate of South Cameron High School. He began working as a Milkman and soon there after began his career in the Oil Industry. His early years were with Magcobar Drilling Mud, leading him to Chevron Oil and retiring with Mobile Oil. Mr. Benoit worked hard all his life because that was who he was and what he loved. His favorite “job” was cutting grass. For fun, he worked, but also enjoyed cheering on LSU. He was an admirable man, a good man, of good word, who always provided well for his family. He was skilled in that he could fix or do most anything. He leaves that legacy in sharing those skills and mindset with his son and grandson. Mr. Benoit will be most remembered for his love and devotion to his family and his soft spot for animals.
He leaves to cherish his memory, his daughter, Oralia Benoit of Lake Charles; son, Joseph “Anthony” Benoit of Lake Charles; grandson, Noah Arce of New Orleans; sister, Mary Ann Trahan and husband Carroll of Carlyss and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife of fifty-four years, Maria “Toni” Benoit; one son, John W. Benoit Jr. (Junior); parents, Damesthane and Leona Miller Benoit; brother, John Paul Benoit; and aunts and uncles.
Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 25, 2019, in the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Father Wayne LeBleu will officiate. Visitation Wednesday will be from 5-8 p.m. with a rosary beginning at 6:30 p.m. Visitation Thursday will be from 10 a.m. until the start of service in the funeral home. Interment services will be at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Cemetery.
Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net.
Gertrude Boggs Brunson
Gertrude Brunson, of Lake Charles, died July 22, at home. Born June 24, 1921, in Sugartown, La., she graduated from Sugartown High School in 1938. She was married to James Hugh Brunson for 48 years. They were active members of Trinity Baptist Church. Gertrude was a creative homemaker and animal lover.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Izella Boggs; and her siblings, Luella Boggs, Burl Boggs, Lela Harper, Webster Boggs and Frank Boggs.
She is survived by her sister-in-law, Rudell Moreau; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be at Hixson Funeral Home of Lake Charles on Thursday, July 25, at 11 a.m. Visitation will be before the ceremony from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m.
Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.
Lynwood Colbert Burkhalter Jr.
Lynwood Colbert Burkhalter Jr., 64, died Saturday, July 20. Memorial service will be noon, Saturday, July 27, in Maplewood United Methodist Church.
Joanne Smith Cloar
Joanne Smith Cloar, 87, of Merryville, La., passed from this life on Sunday, July 21, 2019.
Joanne loved her flowers and enjoyed gardening.
Those left to cherish her memories are her son, Jake Allen Cloar and Pam of Merryville, La.; daughter-in-law, Griselda Cloar of the Dominican Republic and Merryville, La.; special nieces, Paula Benefiel and Diane Green, both of Marshall County, Ky.; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one great-great-grandchild; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bobby Joe Cloar; sons, John Carl Cloar and Thomas Martin Cloar; parents, Jake and Winnie Cloar; sisters, Margie Henson and Sherry Turnbow.
A special private family graveside service will be scheduled at a later date at Byrn Funeral Home in Mayfield, Ky.
Services are under the direction of Myers-Colonial Funeral Home in DeRidder, La.
Rena Duhon Franks
Rena Duhon Franks, 93, of Oretta, La., passed away on Monday, July 22, 2019, at her residence. She was a faithful Christian who served by her beloved husband’s side as they ministered to several Churches of Christ in Southwest Louisiana.
Rena was the epitome of hospitality. She welcomed you to her home and insisted you have refreshments or a meal and would send you home with fresh produce from her garden or something made in her kitchen. Canning and preserving vegetables and fruits from her garden and fruit trees and sharing them with family and friends brought her great joy. She loved to quilt and the quilts she made for her children and grandchildren are greatly treasured.
She is survived by two daughters, Rita (Glenn) Whitman of Merryville, Renee (Darrell) Treme of Lake Charles; three sons, Jerry (Paula) Franks of Natchitoches, Glen (Ena) Franks of Lake Charles, and Malcolm (Theresa) Franks of Toledo Bend; 15 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her cherished husband of 75 years, Martin B. Franks.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Damon Whitman, Chad Franks, Matt Franks, Chris Franks, Dan Riley, Jeron Treme and Dustin Treme.
Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 26, 2019, at DeQuincy Church of Christ in DeQuincy, La., with Ray Hyatt and Ben Treme (grandson) officiating. Visitation will be at the church on Thursday, July 25, 2019, from 5-8 p.m. and will continue on Friday, July 26, 2019, at 9 a.m. until the time of service. Burial to follow at Bivens Cemetery in Bivens.
Family would like to thank Brighton Bridge Hospice, especially Taylor Stroud and Kristy Lowe and caregivers, Ann Pierce and Jeanie Hyatt for their compassionate care during her illness.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Bivens Cemetery Hwy 389, c/o Johnny Faye Blackman, 225 Old River Dam Road, Merryville, LA 70653 or the American Cancer Society.
Services are under the direction of Myers-Colonial Funeral Home in DeRidder, La.
Sudie Louise Gee
Sudie Louise Gee, 93, died July 21. Memorial service will be 6 p.m. today, July 24, at Hixson Funeral Home in Lake Charles.
Larry Dean Hano
Larry Dean Hano born Oct. 15, 1955, departed this life and went to meet His Lord and Savior on July 14, 2019, surrounded by family.
Left to cherish his memory is Nelda Lewis who in his words, “the love of his life who stood by his side when no one else would” while battling his illness.
Siblings are brothers, Noah Hano Jr. and wife Virgina from Springfield, La., Huck Hano from Odenville, Ala.; and sister, Daisy McCartney from Sulphur, La.
Children are Larry Hano Jr of Tylertown, Miss., Joseph “Scooter” Lewis and wife Vickie of Westlake, La., Missy Stone of Hammond, La., Kimberly Dunaway and husband Jason of Lacomb, Miss., Leslie Merrick and husband Daryl of Denham Springs, La., Samatha Hardin and husband Mark of Tylertown, Miss.; 15 grandchildren, a whole host of nieces, nephews and cousins; numerous friends and family at Axiall Chemical.
Preceded in death are parents, Noah and Daisy Hano; brother, Eval Hano; brother-in-law, James M.McCartney.
A Celebration of life will be held for Larry on July 27, 2019, at Houston River Baptist Church in Sulphur, La., located at 110 W Houston River Rd., Sulphur, LA 70663, at 10 a.m. with fellowship to follow to honor his memory.
James “Jimmy” Harold Jones Sr.
Funeral service for James “Jimmy” Harold Jones Sr., 83, will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 27, in Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles. A graveside service will follow at Consolata Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday, July 27, from 9 a.m. Clarence Mounce, Rachel Potter and Stacey Seidlitz will officiate.
Mr. Jones passed away peacefully into his eternal rest at home in Tomball, Texas, on Friday, July 12, 2019. Jimmy was born Oct. 21, 1935, in Texarkana, Texas, as an orphan. He was lovingly adopted into the home of Urbin and Esther Turnipseed Jones. Mr. Jones was most thankful for his adoption into a strong Christian family and served faithfully and obediently for nearly 70 years.
Jimmy was a 1955 graduate of Hope High School in Hope, Ark. He married Peggie McGee Jones in 1960 and they adopted their only son, James Jr., in 1970.
In 1981, Jimmy and Peggie purchased Smokey Joe’s Barbeque on W. McNeese Street from the Majestic family. The restaurant was open to the community for nearly 50 years before closing it’s window in 2012. Mr. Jones was known to the community as “Smokey Joe” and was a pioneer in the holiday cooking business and began frying turkeys in 1984. He loved the community of Lake Charles and enjoyed visiting with his customers.
Those left to cherish his memory are his son, James Jones Jr. and wife Angela of Tomball, Texas; his three grandchildren, Victoria Jones Perkins (husband Kyle), Matthew James Jones, and Stephen Andrew Jones; three brothers-in-law, Calvin (Nedda) Penland of Crocker, Mo., Curtis (Phebe) McGee of Acworth, Ga., and Glenn McGee of Midlothian, Texas; and one sister-in-law, Sarah McGee Hatchett; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Peggie McGee Jones; his brother and sisters; his sisters-in-law, Joy Penland and Leona McGee; and brother-in-law, Joseph “Joe” McGee.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in memory of Jimmy H. Jones Sr. to the Heart Gallery of America, Inc., a project to increase awareness across the United States for children needing forever homes. May your contribution bring the same lifelong family to another young child that adoption brought to Jimmy. Donations can be made online at www.heartgalleryofamerica.org.
Words of comfort to the family may be left at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net.
Jerry Allen Scalisi
Jerry Allen Scalisi, 70, of Sulphur, died Saturday, July 20. Funeral service will be 2 p.m. today, July 24, in Johnson Funeral Home.
Rebecca Ann Spears
Rebecca Ann Spears, 63, of Westlake, died Sunday, July 21, at home. A Celebration of Life Service will be 6 p.m. today, July 24, in Hixson-Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home.
Dr. H. M. Stebbins, Colonel (Retired) USAF
Harcourt Morgan Stebbins, DDS, 97, died early on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, in his home, surrounded by his family.
Born Dec. 1, 1921, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where all of his brothers were born also, Dr. Stebbins was the happiest when talking about his very happy childhood there (you should hear the stories).
He was educated in Puerto Rican public schools until the age of 14, when he moved to Lake Charles to live with his grandparents. He graduated from Lake Charles High School in 1940 and was a proud graduate of John McNeese Junior College. During World War II, Harcourt enlisted in the U.S. Army and was sent to Loyola University in New Orleans where he received his DDS and a graduate preceptorship in Anesthesia. He helped many women in labor, children with their tonsils and many people having surgeries in Lake Charles, where he practiced until 1955 when he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as a dentist. There he taught and practiced dentistry for twenty years. He had assignments in Germany and the U.S. As a dentist, he received a Meritorious Service Medal and was awarded the prestigious Heidbrink Medal for anesthesia among many other accolades. He taught dental anesthesia in three languages and was a founding member of the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology.
Around 1980, he moved back to Lake Charles, where he stayed active as a Spanish / English translator for the court system and local law enforcement. Dr. Stebbins was well loved. He was an avid tennis player and taught many area youth the intricacies of the game. He also enjoyed karate, parties and just being social. As a young man, he shook Charles Lindbergh’s hand on two different occasions and met Amelia Earhart. He also had coffee with Maurice Chevalier at a café in Paris and met Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. (later General) when he was the governor of Puerto Rico.
Dr. Stebbins is survived by his children, Charlotte, David, and Sarah; his grandchildren; and great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Carol; parents, Maud Fay and Edwin Anson Stebbins; his adored grandparents, Charles and Clara Fay; his dear brothers, Edwin, Charles, Thornwell, and Chapin. He missed them terribly and the family is glad that he is with them again.
His memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 26, 2019, at the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Bobbie Yellott will officiate. A gathering of family and friends will be on Friday from noon until the start of the service.
Words of comfort to the family can be expressed at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net.
Hilda Nixon Tezeno
Hilda Nixon Tezeno, born in Kinder, La., on Oct. 20, 1923 to Alice and Bazile Reed was granted her angel wings on July 16, 2019. Her final days were spent surrounded by family and friends whose lives she touched in many ways throughout her very memorable life. She enjoyed watching baseball, spending time with family, cooking and attending her home church, Greater Life Oak Baptist Church. She was the oldest of eleven children.
Preceded in death by her parents; husband, Marion Tezeno; siblings, John “Joe” Reed, Joseph Reed, Bazile “Tote” Reed Jr., Emily Reed Marrow, Arthur “Brother” Reed, William “Willie” Reed, Lawrence “Son” Reed, Sam Reed; one son, Israel “Tarzan” Nixon.
She leaves to cherish her memory; sisters, Mary “Chute” Duhon and Laura Jane Williams, both of Lake Charles; eight children, Ruby N. Guidry (Herman Guidry), Isaac V. Nixon of Harrisburg, Penn., Louise Miles Mason of Sierra Vista, Az., Louis D. Miles, Nolton “P-nut” Reed, Alice Fay Reed, Deadra R. Tezeno, all of Lake Charles, Avin Ray “Buck” Reed of Baytown, Texas. She also leaves to mourn 24 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren, seven great-great grandchildren, one great-great-great grandchild, and a host of family and friends whom she welcomed with open arms as her own.
Services will be held Today, Wednesday, July 24 at Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church at 9 a.m. Arrangements have been entrusted to Combre Funeral Home.
A very special thanks to Hospice, Nolton, Deadra and Nolan for their untiring daily loving care.
Olivia Grace Winstead Infant
Olivia Grace Winstead, infant daughter of Ethan and Rebekah Winstead of Lake Charles, passed away at 12:04 a.m. on Sunday, July 21, 2019, in New Orleans, La.
Those left to cherish her memory are her parents; brother, Mason Winstead of Lake Charles; stepsister, Juliette Winstead; maternal grandparents, Jim and Kimberlee Gazzolo of Lake Charles; paternal grandparents, Robert and Carole Winstead of Moss Bluff; and aunts and uncles, Rachel and Joshua McClelland of Lake Charles, Vincent and Emily Gazzolo of Lake Charles, Sarah Gazzolo of Lake Charles, Eric and Rachel Winstead of Anacoco, and Evan Winstead and fiance Christan Pipes of Beaumont.
A private graveside service will be held at Consolata Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.
The family would like to thank the NICU staff at Lake Charles Memorial for Women and Children’s Hospital of New Orleans for their care and support of Olivia Grace.
Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net.
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