Obituary - Colleen Woods Baker

A longtime resident of Central Louisiana, Iris Colleen Woods Baker, age 87, died Saturday, December 1, 2012 at her residence at The Medallion in Houston, Harris County, Texas.

She was born July 15, 1925 to Berta Mae Hall and David Admiral Woods on her grandparents' farm on Bayou Boeuf near Bunkie, in Avoyelles Parish.

Mrs. Baker was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Alexandria, was a 1945 graduate of Northwestern State College in Natchitoches, and was a deputy tax assessor in the Rapides Parish Assessor's Office with Mr. Trenton L. James.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Benjamin Harrison Baker, Jr., her sister, Marilyn Rose Woods Ezernack, and her brother, Col. David Hall Woods (Ret.).

Mrs. Baker is survived by eight children, Mary David Baker and husband Wade L. Callender of Houston, Texas, Benjamin Harrison (Ben) Baker III and wife Helen of Baton Rouge, J. Robert Baker of Fairmont, West Virginia, Iris Colleen Baker Ball and husband Scott of Houston, Texas, Anne Gordon Baker Parks and husband Larry of San Jose, California, Burton Hall Baker and wife Phyllis of Kingwood, Texas, Timothy Charles Baker and wife Cindy of Huffman, Texas, and William Patrick Baker of New Orleans. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, Craig Daniel Baker, Kyle Harrison Baker, Sean Michael Baker, Rebecca Ellen Ball Ballard, Colleen Elizabeth Ball Hale, Timothy Scott Ball, David Patrick Ball, Ramey Elaine Parks, Meryl Rose Parks, Lucy Anne Parks, Daniel Joseph Baker, Grace Anne Baker, Candice Hope Baker, Paige Olivia Baker, Stephen Timothy Baker and Erin Elizabeth Baker, and six great-grandchildren, Lucy Danielle Baker, Samantha Rose Baker, Clare Anah Baker, Jacob Martin Ballard, Lucy Rebecca Ballard, and Benjamin Scott Ball.

Colleen appreciated the excellent care provided by The Medallion staff during her six and a half year sojourn in Houston. She was particularly grateful for the loving care of her dedicated care-givers Stella Price, Dottie Carroll and Claudette Heard, who were her second family. Many others also befriended and assisted her, including Danielle H. Cook, RN, of Houston Hospice, with whom she enjoyed an instant and very special bond.

Pallbearers will be her grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers will be Charles David Ezernack, David J. Woods, John Gordon Baker, Jr., Dr. David G. Baker, Michael E. Bordelon, Charles O. Slay, Jr., Jackson Sleet, Walter Woods, Jr. and Jack Landis Woods.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Thursday December 6, 2012 at John Kramer & Son, Alexandria. Friends may also call from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. on Friday December 7, 2012, with procession and graveside services to follow in Alexandria Memorial Gardens conducted by her grandson Craig D. Baker. Arrangements are under the direction of John Kramer & Son - http://www.kramerfuneralhome.org/ or online notes to kramerfunerals@aol.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her honor to the Rapides Parish Library, 411 Washington Street, Alexandria, LA 71301, 318-445-6436, or in the name of Colleen W. Baker to the charity of your choice .

Published in The Town Talk on December 4, 2012 

Obituary - Mary Alice Rhodes Rogers

Mrs. Mary Alice Rhodes Rogers, 93, died 6:00 a.m. Sunday Morning, September 16, 2012. She was born to the late Julian Edgar and Ellen Britton Rhodes at home in Estill, SC, December 9^th, 1918. She earned BS and Master degrees in elementary education and advanced certification as Reading Specialist from GA Southern, Statesboro, GA. She taught in public schools from 1937 until retirement in 1984 and gave private piano lessons up to her final year. She was an member of her beloved Macedonia United Methodist church where she was actively involved in Christian Education, Church library and was pianist and (sometimes) organist until 1999. She held memberships in the Tussie Mussie Garden Club, Mullins Choral Club, Marion County Piano Teachers Assoc., Delta Kappa Gamma-Alpha Zeta Chapter, International Reading Assoc., Marion County Educators Assoc., SC Education Assoc., Mullins Woman's Club, Civic and Literary Club and Celia Perritt Circle of the UMW. She managed her farm and loved gardening providing beautiful flower arrangement for church and many other occasions. In her own words, she "loved all growing things - children, church, gardens and music." She was preceded in death by her daughter Alice Carol Rogers, husband Wilbur Rhemar “Jack” Rogers, step son Jack Wilbur Rogers and his wife Bernadine (Collins), granddaughter Gail (Rogers) Rabon all of Mullins. Also there were Brothers Hugh Britton, David, John Jenkins and Milton Theodore “Ted” Rhodes and their wives, Sister Julia Ellen (Rhodes) Holyfield and half-sister Marguerite (Rhodes) Kittles and their husbands, all of Hampton County, (Estill,) South Carolina. She is survived by one sister, Mrs. David Edward 'Mamie Rhodes' Stoudenmire, Sr. of Loris, SC; and sons Dwain K. Rogers, Sr. (Alice Lee) in San Antonio, Texas; and Gary Burton (Lana) Rogers in Bolingbroke, Georgia. Grandchildren: Mrs. Randy 'Mary Lynn Rogers' Hinson, Dwain K. (Lisa) Rogers, Jr., Greg A. (Amanda) Rogers, Alan Burton (Julie) Rogers and Lindsay Archer-Adams (Trenton). Alice has seven great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter. She wrote her families genealogical histories; and kept both Rogers and Rhodes family reunions active encouraging family pride; and will be missed by many other family members and friends. Viewing will be held Friday afternoon, September 21^st, 2012, at the Mullins Cox-Collins Funeral Home from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Memorial services will be held 4:00 p.m., Saturday, September 22^nd, 2012, at Macedonia United Methodist Church in Mullins, SC, conducted by Rev. Kem Thomas and directed by Cox-Collins Funeral Home followed by a grave side service at Cedardale Cemetery.

Memorial donations in Ms. Alice's memory to Macedonia United Methodist Church, 402 North Main Street, Mullins, SC 29574, 843/464-8127; Epworth Children’s Home, 2900 Millwood Avenue, P.O. Box 50466, Columbia, SC 29205, (803) 256-7394; or Pine Pointe Hospice & Palliative Care, 6261 Peake Road, Macon, Georgia 31210, 1-800-211-1084.

Obituary - Mike Kelly

Michael J. Kelly, 79, of Springfield, MO, passed away Saturday, August 11, 2012 in his home. He was born in Waco, Texas, January 15, 1933 to Michael and Bonnie Jean (Hadley) Kelly.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Audrey; daughters Robin Pritt (David), Jill Green and Mary Bibey of Springfield; son Jon of St. Louis; ten grandchildren Jeremiah Green, Jessica Green, Elise Green, Nicholas Green, Samantha Green, Kevin Pritt, Derek Kelly, Ian Kelly, Sarah Bibey, Rachel Bibey and ten great-grandchildren.

Please join us as we celebrate his life and his journey on Thursday, August 16th in Wesley United Methodist Church, 922 W. Republic Road. Visitation will be at 5:30 PM with services at 6:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers a scholarship is being established in his name with the Ozark Mountain Chapter Sons of the American Revolution; donate to Springfield Habitat for Humanity or the charity of your choice .

Published in the News-Leader on August 14, 2012

Save the Date!

Robert Family Association and Lawton and Allied Families Reunion

June 7-9, 2013

Robertville, SC

(less than an hour from Savannah, GA)

More details to follow!

Association Officers:

Marie Hiott McEntire, President

   marie_mcentire@hotmail.com

   (615) 306-0090

Charlotte Cappel Roy, Vice President

Emily Campbell Anjier, Secretary

Ann Hiott Barham, Treasurer

Obituary - Gordon Overton Ewin

Gordon Overton Ewin

Funeral service will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday June 23 at Trinity Church, Cheneyville, Louisiana. Visitation at home beginning at noon. Services have been entrusted to John Kramer & Son.

Gordon Overton Ewin, attorney and planter, died on June 16 at age 89. He was predeceased by his wife, Katharine Keller Ewin, his brother James P. Ewin, Jr., his sister Havard Ewin Schmidt, and his grandson David Laurence Faust, Jr.

He is survived by his daughter, Katharine Adair Ewin Faust and her husband David, his granddaughter Lucy Adair Faust, his brother Dabney Minor Ewin, M.D. and his wife Marilyn, his sister-in-law Louise Nelson Ewin, and numerous nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Born in New Orleans on June 1, 1923, he graduated from New Orleans Academy. He was commissioned ensign from the Tulane Naval ROTC class of 1943, and served in World War Two aboard the light cruiser USS Columbia, CL56, in the Pacific Theater, as Lieutenant JG. Aboard the Columbia, he saw action in numerous places, including Leyte Gulf and Surigao Strait and especially Lingayen Gulf, where in the course of three days the ship was hit by three kamikazes. Despite devastating damage, the crew kept the ship afloat and continued firing, and the Columbia was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation.

After the war, he returned to Tulane Law School, where he served on the Law Review. He spent a postgraduate year at the Faculte' de Droit of the University of Paris, which instilled in him a lifelong love of France, the French, and travel. He practised law in New Orleans and for nearly thirty years was a partner at Chaffe, McCall, Phillips, Toler & Sarpy. Upon retirement he moved to his beloved Greenwood Plantation in Cheneyville, Louisiana, where he managed the property and farming operations. He was an enthusiastic and capable amateur astronomer, gardener, historian, classicist, linguist, and genealogist. He was a member of the Boston and Louisana clubs and of several carnival organizations.

Mr. Ewin served as board member and president of both the Garden District Association and Friends of the Cabildo, as Governor of the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Louisiana, and as chairman of the Louisiana Democrats for Goldwater in 1964. A lifelong and devout Episcopalian, he became involved in church matters and was elected by write-in vote to the vestry of Trinity Church in New Orleans.

He had legions of friends and admirers of all ages, backgrounds, outlooks, and nationalities, all of whom loved his exuberant hospitality and joie de vivre, wonderful sense of humor and magnificent laugh, keen intellect and shrewd judgement; his wide and deep learning on seemingly every topic; his strong convictions and fair-mindedness; his broad outlook, loyal friendship, sage advice and quiet generosity; his integrity, courage, stalwart belief in doing right no matter what the sacrifice; and his easy ability to befriend anyone from presidents to paupers. He honored truth and laughed at pomposity. No one could tell a funny story better.

He died peacefully following a stroke after a brief hospitalization, just weeks after a large family gathering at his home. His family thanks the staff of Rapides Regional Medical Center and the wonderful team of home assistants for excellent and loving care.

Memorials to Trinity Church, Cheneyville, Louisiana, the Heritage Society, or the Salvation Army preferred

Published in The Town Talk (Alexandria, LA) on June 20, 2012

Obituary - Charles Russell Allor

Charles Russell Allor

Charles Russell Allor peacefully left this world Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. He was surrounded by a loving family. Born Nov. 29, 1934, in Bunkie to Gladys West and Ralph Allor. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Ralph "Skip" Allor; and aunt, Eleanor "Bee" Carroll, of Houston. He is survived by his wife, Patsy Wilson Allor; daughter, Linda S. Allor; son, Russell Ewell Allor; grandson, Michael B. Buster; granddaughters, Laura Eleanor and Helena Kathryn Allor; cousin, Frank N. Carroll; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was a graduate from LSU and received his master's in biochemistry in 1961. He worked for Ethyl Corp. for 30 years before retiring. He was an active member of the following organizations: First Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir, Baton Rouge Symphony Chorus, Louisiana Sinfonietta, Baton Rouge Amateur Radio Club, The Audubon Society, The National Mensa Club, and The Huguenot Society. Visitation at First Baptist Church on Wednesday, Nov. 16, from 9 a.m. until a memorial service at 11 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Organ Fund for First Baptist Church, 529 Convention St.,. Baton Rouge, LA 70802.

Published in The Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA) November 15-16, 2011

Robert Family Cemetery Maintenance

7.28.11/Neale Hightower, President of the Lawton Family Association, asked that we honor our forebearers in the following way.

The Old Robert Family Cemetery near Robertville, SC is in need of regular maintenance.  Our kinsman, Lawton O'Cain, has arranged for us to have it cleaned regularly for $50 per month. If you would like to make a donation toward this effort, you may send a check directly to Lawton O'Cain/Lawton Family Association, 118 Third Street, Estill SC 29918.  Please write in the note section of the check that it is for "Robert Cemetery Maintenance".