David and I had lots of connections to both of these people and their families.
Penny Jane Dees McDowell
(Died January 28, 2014)
A resident of Fluker, LA, lost her battle with Crohn’s Disease on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at Hood Memorial Hospital in Amite, LA. She was 59 years old. “Aunt Penny” graduated from Oak Forest Academy and attended Southeastern Louisiana University where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. She worked in Tangipahoa Parish and Livingston Parish and retired only to continue her love of teaching at Oak Forest Academy in Amite, LA. She touched so many lives throughout her teaching career and will be sadly missed. Penny was a member of St. Jude Catholic Church in Greensburg where she was a lector and Vacation Bible School teacher. She absolutely loved teaching school, watching sports with her Dad, and spending time with her family. But most of all she loved spending time with her nieces, nephews, cousins and her students as if they were her own. Penny is survived by her parents, Earl and Marilyn Dees. One brother, Kevin Dees, two sisters: Trudy Dees Durnin and husband, Steve, and Heidi Dees Carter and husband, Ken,. Her three nieces, Kayla and Karly Durnin and Kennidi Carter and three nephews, Kent Dees, Keaton & Kamen Carter. Penny is preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Warren Douglas Kent, Sr. and Ione M. Kent and her paternal grandparents, Lloyd Dees and Thelma Dees. Pallbearers will be Kent Dees, Keaton Carter, Kamen Carter, Steve Durnin, Ken Carter, and Mark Roth. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the OFA Patrons Club Memorial Fund at Oak Forest Academy. Services will be conducted by Fr. Mark Beard and Deacon Roger Navarra. Services are incomplete at this time with McKneely Funeral Home, Amite. Service details will be posted at http://www.mckneelys.com when they become available.
Penny’s dad taught me at Amite High. Her mother taught with me and taught Jason. Penny taught at Loranger, Livingston Parish, and later at Oak Forest. I taught the other three Dees’ children, but not Penny.
Harry C. Goynes
(February 11, 1944 – January 28, 2014)
A resident of Arcola, LA, died at 11:03 a.m. on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington. He was born February 11, 1944 and was 69 years of age. He is survived by daughter, Mary Goynes Bel, Roseland; 2 grandchildren, Bailey Bel Onellion and her husband, Jeremy, Holden and John Caleb Bel, Arcola. Preceded in death by his wife, JoAnna Catalanotto Goynes; his father, Alton A. Goynes; mother, Eleanor Cier Goynes; sister, Waltrine Miller; brother, Alton Allen Goynes.
Arrangements are incomplete with McKneely Funeral Home, Amite. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.
Harry was a classmate of David (AHS Class of ’62). His mother taught both David and me in Roseland, as well as every other child who attended school there. His daddy was the barber in Roseland.
As always, please pray for the family members who are left behind. Pray for Harry’s church members and Penny’s former students.
The Prayer Link 