The News-Star

John Richard Watson, known to friends and family in Atlanta as Dick (and to those in his hometown of West Monroe, LA, as Richard) died peacefully on October 14. He is survived by his daughters Ginger Griffith and Ashley Watson (Karen Twait), his grandsons Watson and Mac Griffith, his sister Cindy Cagle, and many nieces and nephews. He was 83. Dick's life was defined by the many rich relationships he enjoyed with friends and family, all of which brought him incredible joy. First and foremost among these was his partnership of more than 50 years with his late wife, Gina Beem Watson, whom he adored. Their dance through life was filled with laughter, and we are certain he is thrilled (and...

Samuel William Caverlee passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 29, 2021, from complications of Alzheimer's disease. His wife and best friend, Ellen, and his two sons, John and James, were by his side. Sam was born on June 19, 1945, in Chicago, Illinois to Robert John and Constance McReynolds Caverlee and was the second of four brothers. Following his father's death when he was only 5, Sam moved with his mother and brothers to Monroe, Louisiana. Sam was a 1963 graduate of Neville High School. While at Neville, he was the Student Body President, Mr. Neville and a member of the 1963 Neville State Championship basketball team. As Student Body President, Sam worked with the Monroe...

Mary Lea Hagan, n?e Cascio, was born in Monroe, Louisiana on July 18, 1939 and passed away in Jackson on September 17, 2021. The eldest of six children to Charles and Annie Cascio, a highlight of Mary Lea's life was her Italian heritage and her Catholic faith. Whether in the kitchen passing down traditional recipes or traveling to visit St. Joseph altars, these threads were woven throughout. She is survived by her brother Charles, her sisters Rose Anne, Sarah, and Carolyn, and their respective spouses Wanda, Joe, Bill, and Padg. A longtime member of St. Richard Catholic Church, she was steadfast in her faith to the end. Mary Lea never met a stranger and invested heavily in...

Charles William "Bill" Cook passed away August 30th. He was born May 30, 1936, to W.E. and Irma Cook in Louisville, KY. His family eventually settled in Sherman, TX, where he attended Sherman High School. He also met the love of his life, Beverly Shannon. while a teenager. He went on to attend the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas, where he received a dual degree in Architecture and Engineering. He and Beverly married in 1958 and settled in Dallas, TX, where they raised four children. Bill was a successful architect and engineer for many years in the Dallas area, and he mentored many young architects. He was also a coach and mentor to many young athletes in soccer, softball,...

A Graveside Service in celebrating the Life of Brenda Vest will be held at 2:30 p.m., on Thursday, June 24, 2021, at Providence Memorial Park Cemetery, in Lake Providence, Louisiana.

"As you read this newspaper, my family will be preparing to bury me, Maureen Van Hulle Barber. But I will not be there. I am now breathing free and am happy, no longer in pain or suffering. Through the tunnel of beautiful light l will be joined by my daughter, Veronica; my mom and dad; my brother, Joe; and all the angels and loved ones who have passed before me who usher me to the feet of Jesus. Finally, I am home!" A mass of Christian burial celebrating the life of Maureen Barber will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at St. Jude's Catholic Church in Benton, Louisiana. The family will receive friends and family for visitation Monday, May 31, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00...

Harry ("Hal") McClellan Moffett III passed away of natural causes on January 28, 2021. He is a native of Kansas City, Missouri and resided in St. Simons, Island with his wife Dale Vaughn Rivenbark Moffett for 12 years. He was an active member of the St. Simons Presbyterian Church where he served as Deacon. He was survived by his wife Dale Vaughn Rivenbark Moffett of St. Simons Island, Georgia, his daughter Elizabeth Moffett Clark and her husband Jim, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, son Harry M. Moffett, IV and his wife Deirdre of New Orleans, mother Margaret Neel Yarbrough Moffett of Dallas, sisters Peggy Moffett Zbinden, Dallas, and Ann Moffett Tully, St. Louis. He was preceded in death...

Rufus Johnson was born on September 13, 1938 in Monroe, Louisiana to Rufus Johnson, Sr. and Emma President. Rufus had two brothers, Thomas Johnson and Jeffie Lee Johnson. He was a 1956 graduate of Carroll High School where he played football and met his wife, Marie Outz. To their union three children were born, Ronald, Donald and Veronica. Rufus retired as Master Sergeant from the U.S Army after serving 28 years. He was member of the 82nd Airborne Rangers and served in Vietnam. He was also a Provost Sergeant as a military policeman. After retiring, he worked for the postal service in Alameda, CA for 20 years. Rufus was a proud Minister and a 33rd degree Mason who held memberships in...

Lynne Louise Allen passed away peacefully on December 26, 2020 surrounded by her family at her residence at Montclair Parc, after a brief battle with cancer. Lynne was born April 8, 1947 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but grew up in Monroe, Louisiana. She was preceded in death by her parents, William Timothy Allen II and Virginia Stephens Allen. She is survived by her sisters, Susan A. Robinson of Monroe and Virginia Medlin (and husband, Richard) of Katy, Texas, her brothers, William Timothy Allen III (and wife Moise) and Hubert Stephens Allen (and wife, Linda), both of Shreveport, as well as many nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly. After graduation from Louisiana Tech, Lynne...

Mary Lou Rudisill , 74 Sep 3, 1946 - Nov 28, 2020 Mary Lou (Boyd) Rudisill, 74, of Hagerstown, MD, passed away Saturday, November 28, 2020, at Julia Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Hagerstown, MD. Born in Monroe, LA, on September 3, 1946, Mary was the daughter of the late Henry W. Boyd, Sr. and Lucy D. (Rosamilia) Boyd. In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her son, Jeffrey Rudisill; and, one brother, Dominic Boyd. She was also preceded in death by her friend and companion, Robert Kerfoot. Mary is survived by two daughters: Natalie (Rudisill) DeLargy and husband, Christopher, of Vancouver, WA, and Marla (Shetron) Teach and husband, Keith, of Hagerstown, MD;...

Robert O. "Bob" Wiesemann, Sr., 90 of Bonita Springs, FL and Chicago, IL passed away Sunday, June 14, 2020 at HealthPark Medical Center in Fort Myers, FL. He had also resided in Key Largo, FL and Osprey, FL before moving to Bonita Springs in 2019. Bob was born April 26, 1930 in Peoria, IL the son of the late Otto and Caroline (Koeppel) Wiesemann. Mr. Wiesemann was a veteran, proudly serving in the United States Marine Corps. He attended Bradley College in Peoria, IL and worked at Caterpillar Tractor Co. before beginning his 50-plus year career in the industrial gas business with Liquid Carbonic in 1957. In 1976 Bob founded Continental Carbonic Products, Inc. and under his leadership...

Rhoda "Charlotte" Corbin passed away at her daughter's residence in Benton, Louisiana on Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at age 72. Charlotte was born in Monroe, LA on December 14, 1947 to parents John and Pauline Crosser. Charlotte was a dedicated mother and housewife. She was married for 52 years to the love of her life David Ray Corbin, till his passing on March 30, 2020. Together they had two children, Jeffrey and Paula. Charlotte is preceded in death by her parents, and her husband, David Ray Corbin. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Jeffrey David Corbin and wife, Debbie, and Paula Corbin Prichard and husband, Paul; grandson, John David Corbin and wife Sharee; granddaughter,...

John Bishop Lee, age 73, of Griffin, Georgia, passed away Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 at his home surrounded by loving family. Bishop was preceded in death by his parents John Tally Lee and Mary Williams Lee. Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Jackie Lee, his two sons Matt (Bonnie) and Doug Lee, grandchildren Alex, Asher, James, and Maddie. Bishop had two great loves, flying and his family. Born in Delhi, Louisiana, he took his first flight at the age of one, and at 15 years of age, he earned his private pilot's license. Bishop worked as a commercial pilot from the earliest legal age (age 21) to mandatory retirement at age 60. During his carrier, he flew for Eastern Airlines, U.S....

Randy McCall Byrd, 68, of Goldsboro, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 26, 2020 at Wayne UNC Healthcare. She was born to the late Frederic Clift and Jean Gibson McCall on November 11, 1951 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Randy graduated from Neville High School in Monroe, Louisiana and received a BS in Elementary Education from Louisiana State University in 1973. She taught second grade and thoroughly enjoyed teaching, tutoring and helping students. She is a member of First Presbyterian Church in Goldsboro and a friend of Cornerstone Church. She loved the Lord and was involved in several Bible studies before her health declined. Randy is survived by her sister Frances Boyce and...

Adel Taylor Leaven Chaison 89, gained her wings in Beaumont, TX on March 25, 2020. She was born in Plaquemine, LA. Her parents Ross Taylor and Dorothea Arnold moved to Monroe, LA. Later she moved to Beaumont to live with her aunt and uncle, Jasper and Bertha Leaven after the death of her mother. She was a retired US Postal Supervisor. Her husband of 55 wonderful years, Raymond Charles Chaison, Sr. who preceded her in death. Love and memories will remain in the hearts of her children and family. She is survived by her sons, David Ray Leaven, Raymond Chaison, Jr. (Marylyn), Ronald Phillip Chaison, daughters; Carol Donald (Lionel), Verlis Adams (Eddie); 13 grandchildren, 34 great...

Darrell Tennyson Adkerson, age 84, passed away at home in Cedar Hill, Texas, on Thursday, March 5, 2020. He was born in Elk City, Okla. on a farm and later moved to Checotah, Okla., where he threw four newspaper routes, worked for a butcher every day for three years, and also at an auto dealership. At age 15, he bought his first car for $16, a Model A Coupe. Darrell played high school football, where he was affectionately known by all the players as "chili bowl". Upon graduation from Checotah High School in 1955, Darrell joined the United States Air Force for four years with the 352nd Tactical Fighter Squadron. He flew across the Atlantic six times for three conflicts: Lebanon Crisis,...

The Reverend Polly Chambers Anderson October 4, 1945 - March 1, 2020 Missy considered herself as having lived a life filled with marvels. She was an excellent friend, an even better mother, and found great delight in cultivating wonder with her children. She had an extreme distaste for thistle, boarding school, and bad manners. In turn, she loved the Southwest desert, hand-crafted chocolates, the Okavango Delta, poaching turkeys on Missy's Choice, the Panama Limited, MSU Bulldogs, Indigo Buntings, Hoppe's No.9, Uganda, vodka and Ossetra caviar, the aroma of new books, and Native American art. After her father (Fred) died when she was 18, she continued to live in Gloster with her mother...

On Sunday, December 15, 2019, Dr. Arthur Daniel Sharplin, loving husband and father, passed away at the age of 80 at his home in Austin, Texas. Dr. Sharplin was born on March 22, 1939 in Seminary, Mississippi. He met and married the love of his life, Kathryn Rebecca Collier, on June 6, 1959. He served honorably in the U.S. Navy, received the Navy Commendation Medal, and retired as a Lieutenant after 11 years of service. They have two children, Sylvia Dionna Crown nee Sharplin and Arthur Daniel Sharplin, Jr. They were blessed with 5 beautiful grandchildren: Arthur Daniel Sharplin, III, Emory Elizabeth Sharplin, Kathryn Rebecca Sharplin, David Isaac Crown, and Meghan Elizabeth...

Charles "Chase" Edward Yates II, 30, of Baton Rouge, LA passed away there on October the 25, 2019. He was the son of Charles "Eddie" Edward Yates and Lisa Marie Keown Yates. Chase was born in Hendersonville, TN on September 6, 1989. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Charles & Betty Yates and his uncle, Steve Eugene Keown. Chase is survived by his wife Macee Michelle Crews-Yates, his daughter Addee Ruth Crews-Yates, a son Maverick Taylor Crews-Yates, a sister Maria Danielle Dowell (Derek), a niece Sayla Marie Yates-Fogos, his maternal grandparents, Vera Marie Embry (Larry) and Mr. & Mrs. Gene Keown, 3 Uncles, Randy Keown (Della), Mark Yates (Amy) & Phillip Yates, an...