OBITUARIES

A ceremony celebrating the life of Shirley Rea Stafford Villar will be held at Victory Temple, 41200 Highway 933, Prairieville, on Wednesday, November 16, 2022; visitation will begin at 9am with funeral service following at 12pm. Mrs. Villar was born on January 30, 1938, and departed from this life on Sunday, November 13, 2022. Interment will be at Galvez Community...

Henry Otis Welch, Sr. age 69, passed away on Thursday November 10, 2022, at 10:31 am. Baton Rouge General Hospital on Picardy Ave. He was Lung Cancer Free 7 years 5 1/2 months then returned on Grand Darling Kaylee’s 5th birthday December 3, 2021, as Stage 4 Lung, Liver and Bone. He fought a Courageous Battle for 11 months 1...

Betty Jean Conner was born August 9, 1931, in Helena Arkansas, the daughter of Eugene and Mary Conner. She moved to Chicago and married Eraster Hackett with whom she was blessed with 11 children. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers Sam and Eugene Conner and her oldest daughter Adell (Darrick) Yancy.She is survived by 10 children–Ralph...

Lynn Ray Hester, 81, passed away peacefully on November 10, 2022, surrounded by his family. Lynn was married to the love of his life Dolores Hester for 33 years. Lynn enjoyed fishing, watching westerns and spending time with family and friends.He is survived by his wife Dolores Schexnayder Hester, stepchildren, Ryan Gaudet, Clint (Carmen)Gaudet, Milette (Scott) Mackey, Marcy (Scott) Ricca....

Bill Hite, beloved husband, father, and friend, merged with the Hum of the Universe, on November 7, 2022, in Baton Rouge, LA. He was one of a kind. Bill Hite was born on March 9, 1938, in El Reno, OK. His childhood was spent in Oklahoma City and then College Station, TX, where he attended A&M Consolidated High School.  Those...

Betty Joy Gautreau Bercegeay, 95, passed away on November 6,2022 in Gonzales. She was born on July 28, 1927, in Denham Springs, Louisiana and was a lifelong resident of Prairieville, Louisiana. Her past times were crocheting, sewing, cooking, and watching sports. She was a faithful member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and always loved being active in church...

Karol Armstrong Smith passed away on November 3rd, 2022 at North Oaks Medical center in Hammond, La. Mrs. Smith was born to Joyce Stiles on March 25, 1958.She was survived by her wife Di Smith, son Jason Armstrong, and stepson Christopher Bernard . Karol was a warm and giving person. She loved everyone she met.As a final act of generosity...

Shirley Ruth DeVane, 76, passed away peacefully on Nov. 5, 2022, with her family by her side.Born in Amite, La., Ms. DeVane spent most of her life in the Hammond, La. area. She retired after many years at the Hammond Medicaid Office within the Louisiana Department of Health.Ms. DeVane most enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her three loving...

Libby Jean Smith Buchholtz (83) a resident of Walker, LA passed away at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital on November 3, 2022. Libby was born on June 5, 1939, in Gastonia, North Carolina. Libby was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend to many. She was a devoted grandmother and loved spending time with her family and grandchildren.Libby...

Billie Sue Tolbert, 87, of Prairieville, Louisiana, passed away Friday, November 4, 2022, at Flannery Oaks Guesthouse in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She was born to the late Cecil and Dovie Dubose, July 20, 1935, in Jasper, Texas.  Billie married William “Bill” Tolbert September 13, 1956.  She is a member of Ascension Baptist Church in Gonzales, LA.  Billie is survived by...

Tony was born in 1941 and passed on in 2022. After graduating high school, Tony enlisted in the Air Force. He was honorably discharged September, 1969. He then pursued contact work all over the world including Thailand, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and others, in logistics, along with his life long friend Mike Roche. Of the counties he worked in Thailand was...

Timothy William Snyder 72, of Saint Amant, Louisiana passed away quietly in his sleep on November 2, 2022, after a three-year battle with congestive heart failure. Tim was born on May 16, 1950, in Canton Ohio. After Tim graduated from Glenwood High School in 1968, he went on to join the Airforce that same year.  After serving four years in...

On November 1, 2022, Susan Book Fairbanks passed away peacefully at age 62 after a brief illness. Susan was married to the love of her life, Clay Fairbanks, for 37 years. She was an amazing mother to her three daughters.  However, many people considered Susan their surrogate mother.Susan was an exceptional wife, mother, and grandmother. She cared deeply for her...

“God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers” Travis (TJ) Richardson Jr, a native and resident of Gonzales, passed away October 25, 2022 at the age of 18. TJ was loved and cherished by many and will be dearly missed.  He is survived by his girlfriend, Mariah Manuel; sister, She’taja Deverteuil; brothers, Kendell Richardson and Taddam Duplessis; pawpaw, Troy...

Eric Kelly West, born in Baton Rouge and resident of Prairieville, passed away on Thursday, October 27, 2022, at the age of 51. Kelly enjoyed being with his family and fishing. He is survived by his wife, Sedina Colligan West; daughter, Marissa West; parents, John and Janice West of Prairieville, LA; Siblings: Derenda King (Randy) and Tamara Edwards (Mark); as...

Anna Bruno Manger passed away on Sunday, October 30, 2022, at age 98. Beloved wife of the late Ruben A. Manger Sr. She is survived by two sons, Stephen (Ann) and Ruben Jr. and his wife. She is also survived by four grandchildren and their spouses, Stephanie, and her husband Duane Plauche, and three other grandchildren and their spouses. Additionally,...

Marie Silvio Maranto, age 87, passed away on October 29, 2022. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend to all who knew her. The joys of her life were her three daughters, sons-in-law, her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was a great cook and loved family gatherings. Marie was a parishioner of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, the...

Julia Katherine (Caylor) McLellan was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on July 27, 1921, and died on October 27, 2022, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. On a beautiful Thursday morning, at her R5J Farm, Julia McLellan quietly passed into the arms of her beloved Savior, Jesus, after 101 years and 3 months of a life of service. Her legacy includes 6 children,...

Carl Daniel Edney, born in Pulaski, VA and resident of Prairieville, LA, passed away at his home surrounded by his family on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, at the age of 75.  Carl worked as a boilermaker for Ohmstead in Geismar for over 35 years and was a member of Local 582. He proudly served in the USA Navy.  He enjoyed...

Johnny Loyd Sumrall was born October 9, 1936 and passed away on October 27, 2022.  John was a man of deep faith who served people and shared God’s love for them wherever he went. He is now with his Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. He passed away after a short stay in Clarity Hospice of Baton Rouge.Services celebrating his life...