The News-Star from Monroe, Louisiana • Page 15

THE NEWS-STAR Obituaries WWW.THENEWSSTAR.COM OBITUARY ADS must be submitted by the funeral home through -mail to Photographs are to be in jpg format and e-mailed. Our deadline is 4:00 P.M., Monday through Sunday. Obituary hours on weekends and holidays are from 3:00 P.M. until 5:00 P. M.

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For more information call the funeral home of your choice or us at 362-0201. Obituaries are also posted on our website at www.thenewsstar.com ALMA RITA GREMILLION RIDDLE Hixson Brothers Funeral Home, Marksville, LA Services for Mrs. Alma Rita Gremillion Riddle will be held at 1:00 p.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Marksville.

Burial will be in Cushman Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home of Marksville. Mrs. Alma Rita Gremillion Riddle, age 87, a resident of Marksville passed away Thursday, May 8, 2008, at Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria. She was a member of St.

Joseph's Catholic Church. Rita taught religion classes for several years and was actively involved in the Adoration Chapel at St. Joseph's. She was involved in various civic and volunteer organizations including the Marksville Chamber of Commerce. She was predeceased by her parents J.

Eddie Gremillion and Lola Moreau Gremillion, two brothers, Joseph Eddie Gremillion and Richard "Dickie" Gremillion. Rita was the wife of the late Charles A. Riddle Jr. She is survived by four daughters, Betty Jo McInnis and her husband Kell of Baton Rouge, Mary Ann Riddle, of Monroe, Janet Riddle, of Washington, D.C., Kathy Catanzaro and her husband Mike of Baton Rouge and two sons Charles Riddle III, and his wife Susan, of Marksville and Robert Riddle and his wife Lisa of Monroe, one sister, May Firmin, of Crowley and thirteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Visitation will take place at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home beginning at 5:00 p.m.

until 9:00 p.m. on Friday, May 9, 2008 and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until shortly before service time. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

She will be sorely missed by the "bridge ladies" group of which she has been active for over fifty years. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society, St. Joseph's Catholic Church or your favorite charity in the name of Mrs. Alma Rita Riddle. To extend online condolences to the Riddle Family, please visit our website at www.hixsonbrothers.com ANNA MARIE "ANN" OGDEN GUIMBELLOT Cox Funeral Home Delhi, LA Funeral services for Ann Ogden Guimbellot, 63, of Delhi will be at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, May 10, 2008 at Lamar Baptist Church south of Delhi with Rev.

Jason Lupo officiating. Burial will be in Lamar Cemetery under the direction of Cox Funeral Home of Delhi. Visitation will be held at Lamar Baptist Church from 4:00 P.M. Friday until time of service. Ann passed away Thursday, May, 8, 2008 at Dubuis Hospital in Shreveport.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Albert Ray Guimbellot and her parents, Ernest Allen Ogden and Wilma Mae Daakson Ogden. Kilpatrick Funeral Homes 80 Years of Service trick Best of The Best Kilpatrick Funeral Homes is one of only Funeral Homes National Funeral Directors eight funeral homes in the country to receive Family owned and operated since 1927. Association Recognizes Kilpatrick NFDA the Eagle Award from the National Funeral Monroe 323-9611 West Monroe 323-9614 Pursuit of Funeral Homes Two Years in a Row. Excellence Directors Association. Ruston 255-2832 Farmerville 368-3025 0000428477 kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com 2006 NFDA Pursuit of Excellence Eagle Award Winner 2007 NFDA Pursuit of Excellence Eagle Award Winner FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2008 3B Supranuclear Palsy), the disease that Ray's step-mother eventually passed away from.

PSP was a very mysterious disease and Chris was tireless in her devotion to the group and its members in trying to help the victims and their families cope as well as bring education about this disease to the forefront. Chris had been a member of Journey Community Church of Camas, WA. She recently joined the NV Gypsies FMCA Club and was able to go on one last RV trip before her health finally failed. She so enjoyed RVing and made many, many friends along the way that she continued to correspond with over the years. Chris very rarely ever forgot someone's birthday or anniversary and made it a point to send a card or at least (in the last few years) send an e-mail.

Chris was a very selfless person, never complained about her health and always tried to hide the pain she was in from others. She will be greatly missed. A celebration of Chris' life will be held May 12, 2008 at Kilpatrick's Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Coushatta, LA at 1:00 p.m. with graveside services to follow at Zion Cemetery, Fairview Alpha, LA. Pallbearers include Preston Bain, Don Blumenthal, Jeff Brown, David Sides, Jerry Fields, and Billy Wood.

Please sign the guest book at www.columbian.com/obitu aries DONALD R. BURKETT Mulhearn Funeral Home Sterlington Rd. Monroe DONALD R. BURKETT, 89, formerly of Johnstown, PA and a resident of Monroe, LA, since June 2001, went home to be with his heavenly father May 7, 2008, at 11:40 A.M. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have remained faithful.

Well done my good faithful servant." My Father, the third of four children was born April 20, 1919 in Salt Block, PA at to the union of Sylvester Gary and Bessie Ellen Diehl Burkett. His father was a coal miner and his mother, a young housewife. The family moved 25 miles to Johnstown, PA, where he met his future wife, Nina Jane Himes. Don was a good athlete, playing football, basketball and tennis before graduating. WWII broke out and as part of this Nation's greatest generation, he enlisted in the U.

S. Army and served in the Indo China Theater at the rank of Sgt. frequently driving the perilous Burma Road. Honorably discharged Donald returned to Johnstown and worked at Bethelem Steel. He then became reacquainted with Nina.

They were married on June 23, 1946 at Beulah UMC and enjoyed 60 years of marriage. My father left the steel mill to operate his own retail service business in the community and surrounding area. Donald was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and siblings; sister, Marie Costo and husband Louis; brother, Earl and wife Rose; and brother, Merle, age 9. Also preceding in death were his father and motherin-law, Mr. Mrs.

William E. Hines, Jr. of Johnstown and his dear sister Joyce Cook of Loysville, PA. Left behind to cherish Don's memory are his son, David Gary Burkett, M.D. and wife Judy Burkett; grandchildren, David Scott Burkett, M.D.

and wife Ashley Burkett; Laurie Burkett Smiley, J.D. and husband Shane Smiley, CRNA all of Monroe, LA, Courtney Burkett Schindler, J.D. and husband Kevin Schindler, M.D. of San Antonio, TX and Brittany Burkett, a Jr. at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX; great grandchildren, Katherine Elizabeth Burkett, Camille Claire Burkett, Ella Scott Burkett, Marshall Henry Burkett, Benjamin David Burkett, and Taylor Alexis Smiley of Monroe, LA; brother-in-law, Philip Cook, DVM of Loysville, PA and numerous nieces and nephews.

My Mother and Father were proof that opposites attract. Don was quiet and offered few opinions while Nina was verbal and had many opinions. A thesaurus would need more pages to describe how good, wonderful and kind my Father was. Honest Abe is a good reference. He was a gentle Ben of a man.

His personality was engaging. His love was unconditional and steadfast. My Father's strength, endurance and faithfulness are to be honored. A Christian from birth, he loved the Lord and knew his Holy Father. A regular church attendee, he was a life long member of Beulah UMC.

While living in Monroe, LA, he attended Lea Joyner Memorial UMC. Don enjoyed fishing, baseball and more baseball. I suspect he was a Yankee fan just like his father. He was humorous and relished the thought of solitaire, pinochle, hearts, gin, checkers, dominos and almost any other board game. He was unpretentious and unassuming seeing the good in all people.

His love for food is legendary. He served many restaurants and eateries as a food taster, menu critic and oral advertiser without ever asking for a cent. He truly knew the definition of buffet, especially dessert buffet. Even though he was a diabetic, diets were only for other people. This having been said, it is said in loving jest.

The greatest compliment that may be bestowed upon a man is that of being Dad. You were a great great Dad. Time will heal the wound and ease the pain of his loss but the memories of our 57 years together will always remain. I love you Daddy and I will sorely miss you. Thank you for everything.

Friends will be received from until on Friday, May 9, 2008, at Harris Funeral Home, 500 Cherry Lane, Richland, PA. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, May 10, 2008, with Rev. Charles Shaffer officiating. Interment will follow at Grandview Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to Beulah United Methodist Church in Johnstown, PA. and wife Burkett; Anna Marie is survived by four brothers, Jimmie Ray Ogden, Allen Ogden and wife Evelyn, Billy "Moose" Ogden and wife Jeannie, and Steve Ogden and wife Teresa; two sisters, Mary "Cookie" Humphries and husband Ron and Barbara Butler and husband Elmo; four nieces, Karyn Graves Smith and husband Johnny Ray, Jacquetta McCranie and husband Anthony, Melanie Montoya and husband Alex and Margaret Butler; eleven nephews, Paul Ogden and wife Candice, Jimmie Ogden and wife Patty, Michael Graves and wife DeAnna, Robbie Ogden and wife Jennifer, Daniel Ogden, Jake Ogden, Luke Ogden, Billy Ray Ogden, Gene Ferrell and wife Sharon, Tommy Berryhill and Ralph Guiterrez, numerous great nieces and nephews and a very special companion, Robert Hudson. Nephews will serve as pallbearers. To leave a message of condolence to the family please visit coxfuneral.com CHRISTINE (CHRIS) CONLIN WRIGHT Rose-Neath Funeral Home Coushatta, LA. On May 7, 2008, Christine (Chris) Conlin Wright went to be with her Lord and Savior after a 10 year courageous battle with cancer.

Chris was under the Hospice care of Nathan Adelson of Las Vegas, NV, and passed away at home with her husband and daughter by her side. Chris just recently moved with her husband to Las Vegas after spending several years in Camas, WA. Chris was born in Natchitoches, LA on June 24, 1948. She lived in Shreveport, LA before moving to Monroe, LA where she attended Neville High School. She graduated from Northeast Louisiana University in 1974 with a BA in Office Administration.

Chris is survived by her husband of 34 years, Ray Wright; and their 32 year old daughter, Christina (Tina) Sweeney of Oklahoma City. In addition, her survivors include: her mother, Louise Wood Conlin of Mandeville, LA; sister, Mary Conlin O'Hara, of Mandeville, LA; aunts and uncles; Jim and Esther Wood, Billy and Martha nieces, nephews and their families; Laura and Preston Bain, Erin and Rusty Birchall, Elizabeth and Jeremy Carroll, Lee Greg Heath, Jennifer O'Hara and Cecelia Palermo, Richard and Erin Robin, and Kathleen and David Sides. She is also survived by her mother inlaw, Pat Wright; brothersin-law, Dr. Richard Robin and Banner Wright; stepson Hal Wright; grandsons, Alex and Brayden Wright; and many great nieces and nephews that affectionately referred to her as "Grandma Lastly, she is survived by the "love of her her "grand-dog" Jake. She was preceded in death by her father, Maurice Conlin; and sister, Jan Conlin Robin.

Chris also wanted to make a point of recognizing Jeanne Eckardt, a very special friend who enriched her life from the time Chris and Ray moved to Washing. ton state several years ago, and continued to be an amazing support system to both Chris and Ray in her final days. We can't thank Jeanne and her husband, Guenter enough for their support and love during this very difficult time. When helping her husband care for his ailing step-mother, Chris became active with the support group for PSP (Progressive Keith Crane of St. Joseph, LA and Kirk Crane and his wife Susan of Lafayette, LA; eight grandchildren Melanie Hughes, Chuck Jenkins, Dana Chambliss, Kevin Crane, Jay Crane, Scott Crane, Tiffany Crane and Todd Crane; greatgrandchildren Ashley Ostrowski, Emily Hughes, Sarena Chambliss, Brianna Crane, Alex Crane, Kayla Crane, Parker Crane and Brooklyn Crane; her brothers Vernon Melville, Charles Melville and James Melville; her sisters Lavada Long, Llewelyn Gasaway, Helen Bottrell, Lorraine Rucker, Joyce Bonds and Margaret LaRoe.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Talmadge Crane and her parents Leon Melville and Mae Segers Melville; brothers David Melville, Harvey Lee Melville and Garland Melville; sisters Annie Ruth Meyers and Dorothy Jean Melville. Mrs. Crane was born in Brookhaven, MS and was a resident of Tensas Parish for over 60 years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Newellton. "She was Administrator of Heritage Manor Nursing Home through its transition to the Newellton Nursing Home.

"Miss" Louise will be dearly missed by her extended church family. ODELL CHEEK ALLEN Riser Funeral Home Columbia, LA Services for Odell Cheek Allen, age 95 of Clarks will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 10, 2008 from the chapel of Riser Funeral Home in Columbia with Rev. Jack McKeithen officiating. Her granddaughter, Rebecca Easley will deliver the eulogy. Interment will follow in the Riverview Cemetery in Monroe.

Mrs. Allen was born in Mangham on December 30, 1912 to the union of Harvey and Addie Loraine Cheek and died Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at the Citizens Medical Center in Columbia. She was a retired seamstress with LaSevilla worked for Canal Barge Fashions and later, she Lines. She was also a member of the Clarks Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband: Tom Allen, her brothers: Artis Cheek, Woodrow Cheek, Elmer Cheek, Thurman Cheek and Percy Cheek and her sisters: Maudie Richardson, Ella Gammill, Evelyn McDaniel, Thelma LaCas and Helen Sue Brazille.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law: R. H. and Wanda Allen of Memphis, TN, her daughter: Earline Eason of Clarks, her daughter and son-in-law: Betty Jean and Murphy Ballard of Clarks, her grandchildren: Johnny W. Eason, Mark Allen Eason, Randall Hue Allen, Aronda Allen Thetford and Rebecca Elizabeth Easley, ten great-grandchildren, one great great-grandchild, her brother and sister-inlaw: Herman and Betty Cheek of Pineville and her sisters: Agnes Cheek Aldy of Batesville, MS and Myrtis Cheek Clack of Rayville. Pallbearers will be Johnny W.

Eason, Mark A. Eason, John L. Thetford, Lonnie R. Easley, Justin M. Eason and Jake L.

Thetford. Visitation will be Friday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Riser Funeral Home, 7131 Hwy 165, Columbia. THOMAS JOHN MOUTZ Mulhearn Funeral Home West Monroe, LA Memorial Services will be held for Thomas John Moutz, 66, of West Monroe, LA at 3:00 PM on Saturday May 10, 2008 with visitation held between 1:00 P.M.

until 3:00 P.M. with Rev. Jerry Salisbury officiating at the chapel of Mulhearn Funeral Home located at 300 McMillan Drive in West Monroe, LA. Mr. Moutz passed away May 6, 2008.

He was born October 24, 1941 in Elkin, West Virginia and raised in Canton, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his beloved father, Wilson Glen Moutz. John was awarded the degree of Juris Doctor from the Cleveland Marshall College of Law on June 12, 1970 and enjoyed a distinguished legal career that spanned several decades and three continents. John retired as McDermott Corporation's Lead Corporate Counsel. After retirement, John was an avid stock investor, successful golfer, and strident political analyst.

John had a magnanimous personality that loved to debate, joke and state his opinions with great authority. Yet John was also sensitive to the feelings and needs of others, had a genuine affection for animals, and was deeply concerned for the underprivileged. John's values ran deep but surfaced on many occasions. John attributed his character to Boy Scout training, Fatherly Guidance and the Oath of Law he was sworn to uphold and in every sense of the word a True Gentleman and a Man of Honor. John is survived by his wife, Carolyn Crawford Moutz; son, Eric J.

Moutz and wife Lisa of Boulder, CO; daughter, Vanessa Crawford Jones and husband Paul of Orlando, FL; son, Christopher Michael Crawford and wife Brandi; grandson, Noah Christopher; mother in law, Hazel Collins; and extended family members and his best friend and pal, his beloved dog Dippy. The family would like to express our sincere appreciation for everyone's assistance, concerns and prayers and comfort given. Any donations or memorials may be sent to the Volunteer Lawyer Association of Northeast Louisiana. 0 www.mulhearnfuneral home.com LOUISE MELVILLE CRANE Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home Tallulah, LA Louise Melville Crane, formerly of Newellton, passed away Tuesday, May 6, 2008, in Lafayette, LA. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m.

Friday, May 9, 2008 at First Baptist Church of Newellton with Rev. J. Fulton McGraw officiating. Burial will follow in Legion Cemetery in Newellton under the direction of Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home of Tallulah. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m.

until the hour of the service at First Baptist Church of Newellton. She is survived by her daughter Gloria Marquis and her husband Earl, of Alvin, TX; her three sons Dale Crane and his wife Rosa of Pineville, LA and MULHEARN MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY MulhearnFuneralHome.com Stop the CrimeGo Online! OR, CALL 388-CASH (2274) Rewards up to $2,000. Never go to court. Never give your name. Ouachita River Turf Farm Top Quality Sod Centipede St.

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