Please pray for a former student, Kimberly Newell Landry.  She has a tumor on her thyroid and will have surgery Wednesday at Baton Rouge General.  Her mother requested your prayers.

Mrs. Avis Sullivan will be in Hood Memorial for three or four days to get some antibiotics.  Pray for her and her family.

The Williams brothers, Jacob and Jesse, have both become fathers again.  Last week, Jacob and Kelsey had a daughter, Chloe, to join their son, Noah.  This morning, Jesse and Jamie have a son, Emmett Reece, to join daughter, Joanna.  Pray for these families as they grow.

Ben L. Spears
Hartman-Sharkey Funeral Home

Ben L. Spears, 78, a resident of Osyka, died June 16, 2012 at Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center following a lengthy illness.

He was born July 4, 1933 in Osyka, MS.  He was the son of Fred A. and Eunice Cutrer Spears.  He was a member of Line Creek Baptist Church.

Mr. Spears graduated from Osyka High School where he enjoyed playing basketball.  He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War.  Ben enjoyed beagles and field trials of all types.  He was self-employed in the air conditioning and heating industry for many years before he achieved his dream of developing his own line of dog food and forming Comet Pet Foods.

Dogs were not the only animal he enjoyed.  Across the years he had a collection of exotic animals which included but was not limited to “fainting goats”, buffalos, Alpaca, a camel, sheep, donkeys and many more.  His family never knew what would be in that cattle trailer when he pulled back in after a trip. He was also known for narration in church services.  He narrated Christmas cantatas, Easter cantatas, and many others.  His contribution to live nativity scenes at Osyka Baptist Church are a legend.  He loved people, especially children, and he loved to joke and talk. One of his favorite things to do was to cook, and was especially proud of his chicken pie and dressing.

He is preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter, Elizabeth Carrol Spears; three brothers, Talmadge, Roderick and Jimmy Spears and two sisters, Addie Lee Feigler and Louise Brown.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth “Liz” Spears of Osyka; three sons and daughters-in-law, Freddie and Janet Spears of Brandon, Damon and Liz Spears of McComb and Bentley and Holly Spears of Osyka; one brother, Charles Spears of Osyka; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Ruby and Tuffy Chambers and Helen and Millard Smith of Osyka and Margie and Jim Daniels of Denham Springs; three grandchildren, Justin Spears and wife, Rose, Cody Spears and Morgan Neil and husband, Landon; four great-grandchildren, Alyssa and Haven Spears, Cam Spears and Kinley Neil and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation continues Monday at Line Creek Baptist Church from 12noon until services at 2PM with Rev. Ken Irvin officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Freddie Spears, Damon Spears, Bentley Spears, Justin Spears, Cody Spears and Terry Holloway.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Harry Frye for his many years of dedicated care to Mr. Spears.

Memorials may be sent to Line Creek Baptist Church, 78698 Hwy. 1053, Kentwood, LA 70444.

Share condolences at Hartman-Sharkeyfuneralhome.com

Earl Joseph Basso
(July 23, 1942 – June 18, 2012)

A resident of Independence, he died at 2:30 a.m. on Monday, June 18, 2012 in Independence. He was born July 23, 1942 in Independence and was 69 years of age. Survived by his wife, Emily Bennett Basso, Independence, daughter, Jodie Basso Hutchinson and husband Sherman Hutchinson, Albany, 2 sons, Benny Basso and wife, Regina Crotwell Basso, Kentwood and Michael Basso and wife, Joan Babin Basso, Geismar, sister, Mary Basso Covington and husband, Michael Covington, Maurepas, brother, Lionel Joseph Basso, Independence, 9 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by, daughter, Judy Lynn Basso, father, Rudolph Basso, Sr., mother, Frances Donagricha Basso Richardson, brother, Rudolph Basso, Jr. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20, 2012. Services conducted by Rev. Bobby Joe Carroll. Interment Colonial Mausoleum, Independence, LA. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.