Obituary - Myrtle Haworth Marler

Memorial services for Myrtle Marler will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 17, 2014 in Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, Lecompte with Reverend Joe Bordelon officiating. Burial will be in Rapides Cemetery, Pineville, under the direction of Hixson Brothers, Alexandria.

Mrs. Marler, 99, of Alexandria, formerly of Boyce, passed away Saturday, May 10, 2014, at Lexington House.

During her working career, Mrs. Marler was a long time employee with Drs. Malcolm Denley and Robert Culpepper at the Pediatric Clinic.

Mrs. Marler is preceded in death by her husband, Joseph S. Marler, Sr.; parents, Percy Taylor and Alice Earnest Haworth; sisters, Mable Haworth Evans and Doris Haworth Perkins.

Those left to cherish her memory include her sons, Joseph S. Marler, Jr. and wife, Susan Larson Marler, David Marler and fiancé, Ann Soden Cross; daughters, Alice Marler Lafaye and Mary Elizabeth Miller; friend, Melou James, who is like a daughter to Mrs. Marler and like a sister to Mrs. Marler’s children. Five grandchildren also survive her: Bryan Forbes Lafaye, Joseph S. Marler III, Nathaniel Robert Marler, James Clinton Marler and Matthew Rosteet Miller; four great-grandchildren: Brennan Lafaye, Emma Lafaye, Sydney Leigh Marler and Samuel R. Marler; nephew, Michael Emmett Perkins and wife, Edie and their wonderful children and grandchildren.

Mrs. Marler’s family would like to sincerely thank Lexington House and its staff, as well as Guardian Hospice, for the wonderful care, compassion and love given to Mrs. Marler.

Memorials may be made to either Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, St. James Episcopal Church or to the Lecompte Garden Club.

(posted on the Hixson Brothers website)

Obituary - Portia Shirley Matthews Chapman

Portia Shirley Mathews Chapman died unexpectedly from a stroke on Friday, November 22, 2013, in Lone Tree, Colorado at the age of 83. Shirley was born on June 23, 1930 in Toronto, Canada. Daughter of Corinna Fowler Mathews and US Navy Rear Admiral Bob Orr Mathews, Shirley's childhood featured frequent relocations, she attended fourteen schools. Her fondest memories were of Milford High School in Milford Pennsylvania. She graduated from Western High School, Washington D.C., in 1947. Shirley attended Goucher College and the University of North Carolina, where she was an Alpha Gamma Delta and became an avid Tar Heels basketball fan. She married in 1950 and has four children. After divorcing, Shirley returned to college at University of Colorado, completing her B.S. in Psychology in 1974. Shirley was an accomplished parliamentarian, a Professional Registered Parliamentarian of the National Association of Parliamentarians and a Certified Professional Parliamentarian of the American Institute of Parliamentarians. She was active in several units, including the Professional Parliamentary Research Unit and held the offices of Vice-President and Treasurer of the Colorado Association of Parliamentarians, as well as being active on committees. She frequently taught parliamentary law by chairing public workshops, units and classes. Shirley often wrote bylaws, was a convention parliamentarian, wrote and published articles and skits, and made speeches about General Robert, author of Robert's Rules of Order and her grandfather. Most of all, Shirley enjoyed consulting and unraveling esoteric parliamentary problems. In addition, Shirley worked at Safeway for many years and served as Union Steward and Recorder/Secretary for UFCW Local 7. She loved playing games, camping, cooking, and discussing metaphysical and religious thinking. Shirley dedicated herself to her children and to her love of Parliamentary Law. She is survived by her four children: Robert Warren Chapman, William Mathews Chapman, Corinna Chapman Fry Robert, and Patricia Lilise Chapman Kuehmann. She is additionally survived by ten grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Services will be held at a later date. (Published in the Denver Post on December 8, 2013)

Obituary - Irma Catherine Goulas (November 13, 1938 - January 13, 2014)

Irma Catherine Carter Goulas died on January 13, 2014. She was married for 53 years to the love of her life, who preceded her in death in 2010, Thomas Goulas. They are survived by four daughters, Jacquie Terrell and husband, Danny of New Iberia, LA; Cindy Ryan of Lafayette, LA; Cathy Zamadics and husband, Eddie of Manteca, CA; and Becki Granger and husband Bryan of St. Martinville, LA.; 9 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, one brother, John Carter and wife, Velva, of LeCompte, LA, and one sister, Corinne Manning and husband, Marinus, of Lafayette, LA.

Thomas and Catherine worked and lived in many places for over 20 years in the U.S. Army. They lived in Ancon, Panama, Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Texas and on other military posts. Irma Catherine was a faithful, hard-working Army wife, raising their four young girls alone while Thomas served 2 tours in Viet-Nam and was away for months at a time for training.
Irma Catherine loved her family and was a generous, giving mother and grandmother. She enjoyed spending time with the family and hearing the family news. She was very interested in the genealogy of her family. She was a proud member of the Opelousas Chapter of the DAR, the United Daughters of the Confederacy and White’s Chapel Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, John and Josie Morrison Carter, and one grandson, Joshua Franciol.
Funeral services for Irma Catherine Carter Goulas will be Friday, January 17, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Melancon Funeral Home in Bunkie. Burial will be in White’s Chapel Cemetery in Whiteville, LA under the direction of Melancon Funeral Home.
Visitation will be at Melancon Funeral Home in Bunkie on Friday, January 17, 2014 from 10 a.m. until service time. Memorials may be sent to www.woundedwarriorproject.org. www.melanconfunerals.com 

Historic Bayou Rouge Cemetery Vandalized

Two separate incidents of vandalism at Bayou Rouge Cemetery have shocked and outraged the Evergreen community.

Police are investigating leads and a reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible. Evergreen Police Chief Charles Mayeux Jr. said the first incident occurred on the evening of March 31. The second happened two nights later. In each case, the caretaker of the cemetery discovered the damage the next day. Over 40 gravesites were damaged, some severely. Among those damaged were several that were over 100 years old and at least one dating back to late 1800s. “Grave markers were turned over, broken and even stolen,” Mayeux said. “Some of these markers have historical significance because they date back to the mid-to later 1800s.” The police chief said a local monument company has estimated the damage at $15,000. Police have turned up some leads and the Bayou Rouge Cemetery Board has offered a $500 reward in the case. “This is horrible and disrespectful by whoever did this,” Mayeux continued. “This cemetery has survived storms, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes, yet one individual or individuals vandalized and destroyed this cemetery in two nights.” According to findaagrave.com, there are 630 graves in Bayou Rouge Baptist Church Cemetery. The church was founded in 1843. The cemetery contains the graves of former U. S. Rep. Alfred Irion and several of the original pioneer families of the Evergreen area. Stebo Pearce, whose family has been in the Evergreen area for several generations, said he is “appalled at what was done.” He said he has worked in the cemetery for many years and helped plant over 800 azaleas at the cemetery. “A national TV program once said the `prettiest place in America today is the Bayou Rouge Baptist Church Cemetery in Evergreen, La.,’ and it is,” Pearce said. “We will catch them,” he added. “You can be sure of that. They will pay dearly.”

(article published on AvoyellesToday.com, April 13, 2014; images from kinsman Esther Mohon)

Obituary - Dr. Hugh Edward Vincent, Jr

Dr. Hugh Edward Vincent, Jr., age 90, of Anderson, passed away on Monday, February 17, 2014, at Rainey Hospice House. Born on July 5, 1923, in Laurens, SC, he was the son of the late Hugh Edward Vincent and the late Louise Lawton Vincent. For 66 years, he was the loving and devoted husband of Edith Parker Vincent of the residence.

Following graduation from High School, Dr. Vincent attended and graduated from the University of South Carolina, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical College of Charleston. He was a highly respected physician in Anderson for 46 years.

Dr. Vincent served his country during WW II in the US Air Force where he participated in 23 combat missions and earned 8 combat stars. He was a faithful member of Central Presbyterian Church where he held the offices of Deacon and Elder. Dr. Vincent enjoyed studying family genealogy, and was an avid student of History, especially of the Civil War. He was an outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting. Reading was one of his favorite past times. He served for 15 years on the State Library Board and was President of Anderson Medical Society.

In addition to his wife, Dr. Vincent is survived by 2 sons, Hugh Edward Vincent, III (Leigh) of Iva, SC, and Thomas Lawton Vincent (Cheryl) of Bowling Green, KY; a daughter, Jane Vincent Randolph (Roger) of Cookeville, TN; 2 sisters, Lalla Vincent Rentz (John) of Asheboro, NC and Louise Hallman pf Batesburg, SC; 4 grandchildren, Lauren Randolph Graves, Brooke Randolph Mattingly, Brian Michael Vincent, and Thomas Lawton Vincent, Jr. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas Lawton Vincent, and sisters Betty Harper and Helen Brawley.
A Graveside Service will be held on Thursday, February 20, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. at the New Silver Brook Cemetery, with Rev. Dr. David J. Bailey officiating. The family will receive friends at The McDougald Funeral Home on Thursday from 11:30 a. m. until 1:30 p.m.

The family requests that contributions may be made in memory of Dr. Vincent to the Central Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 1404 North Boulevard, Anderson, SC 29621.


(posted online at: www.mcdougaldfuneralhome.com)

Obituary - Randolph Peebles

SUMTER, SC - John Randolph "Randy" Peeples, 93, of Sumter, widower of Ruth Elizabeth Pate Peeples to whom he was married for 60 years, died Monday, August 19, 2013 at the Tuomey Regional Medical Center. Born June 21, 1920 in Estill, SC, he was the son of the late Robert Rhodes Peeples and Margaret Anne Folk Peeples. Mr. Peeples was an Estill High School graduate and received a BS in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Technical College, where he was a member of Theta Chi fraternity and Omega Tau Eta engineering fraternity. He was a World War II veteran, obtaining the rank of Captain in the U. S. Army and serving in campaigns in both North Africa and Italy. He was a devoted husband and father. He was a long-time member of Trinity United Methodist Church, the Trinity Fellowship Class, the Sumter Lions club, the American Legion Post 15, and the Sumter Voiture 1254 Forty and Eight. He also served as a Scout Leader for the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Peeples was president of the B&R Lumber and Supply Company, Inc. of Bishopville, SC. His early career included management and sales in building materials with Sumter Millwork and Palmetto Forest Products Company. He was also a former City of Sumter Building Official. He is survived by two sons and two daughters: David D. Peeples, Derbiana P. Bowers and husband Grover F. Bowers, III, Margaret "Marce" P. Warner and husband Robert E. Warner, Jr., Robert F. Peeples and wife Shannon Ward Peeples; grandchildren, Grover F. Bowers, IV; Hunter T. Bowers; Margaret E. Bowers; Jacob P. Warner; Lawton P. Warner; Hamilton C. Warner; Ryan W. Kilgo and wife Leigh T. Kilgo; Robert L. Kilgo, III; a great-grandchild, Henry M. Kilgo. He is also survived by his brother, the Reverend Doctor Robert E. H. Peeples and his wife Cora McKenzie Peeples. He was preceded in death by a son, John R. Peeples, Jr. and a sister, Ruth Peeples McNair. Graveside Services will be held at 11 A.M. Thursday at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery, Sumter, SC with the Reverend Doctor Reginald Thackston officiating. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Wednesday at the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and other times at the family home. Memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 226 W. Liberty Street, Sumter, SC 29150. On-line condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston Published in Charleston Post & Courier on August 21, 2013

Obituary - Joy Overbey Pearce

Funeral services for Joy Overbey Pearce will be Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Bayou Rouge Baptist Church in Evergreen, with Rev. David Trimbur officiating. Burial will be in the Bayou Rouge Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Melancon Funeral Home, Bunkie.

Visitation will be Tuesday at Melancon Funeral Home from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. and Wednesday at Bayou Rouge Baptist Church from 10:00 - 10:45 a.m.

Mrs. Pearce, age 82, passed away on Saturday, July 27, 2013 at Bayou Vista Community Care Center. She was a beloved elementary school teacher, having taught children throughout Avoyelles Parish in parochial and public schools as well as instructing home bound children in the students' home settings. Mrs. Pearce was also an accomplished organist and served for many years at Bayou Rouge Baptist Church and William David Haas Memorial United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Oehlan Zeral and Inez Clark Overbey; brothers, Frank C. Overbey and Richard L. Overbey, brother-in-law, V. H. "Speedy" Harris, grandson Robert Jeremy Taylor, and great grandson William D. Pias.

She is survived by her husband of sixty-four years, W. S. "Stebo" Pearce of Bunkie; her daughter, Lydia P. Soroosh and husband, Bob, of Ann Arbor, Michigan; her sons, Sam Pearce and wife, Tookie, of Evergreen, Steve Pearce and wife, Pat, of Bunkie, David Pearce and wife, Nicole, of Washington; one brother, Clark "Corky" Overbey and wife, Marilyn, of Aberdeen, South Dakota; three sisters, Juanita O. Faciane and husband, Nick, of Bunkie, Beryl O. Harris of Minden, Texas, and Eloise O. Mitchell and husband, Jim, of Pilot Mountain, North Carolina; sister-in-law Pat Overbey of Bunkie, sister-in-law Martha B. Overbey of Dry Prong, fifteen grandchildren, and twelve great grandchildren.

Pallbearers honored to serve will be Sam Pearce IV, Adam Pearce, Will Pearce III, Fletcher Pearce, Tipton Pearce, Tyler Soileau , Andre' Soileau, Scott Plauche, William "Gil" Pias, and Andy Beebe.

The family requests that memorials be sent to Bayou Rouge Cemetery, P. O. Box 287, Evergreen, LA

Published in The Town Talk on July 30, 2013