Category: Death Notice(s)

Donald Ben McMillan
(December 15, 1933 – December 18, 2012)

A resident of Kentwood, died at 12:28 p.m. on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at Hood Memorial Hospital in Amite. He was born August 22, 1929 and was 83 years of age. He was a native and resident of the East Fork Community, where he lived all his life. He was a retired farmer, dairyman, and cattleman. Survived by, 3 sisters, Beth Blazo, Osyka, MS, Joy Easley, East Fork and Estelle Martino, Baton Rouge; brother, John M. Easley, Osyka, MS. Preceded in death by, parents, Fred C. Easley and Lillie Dykes Easley; 4 sisters, Frances Potts, Floy Dell Easley, Lilla Rowley and Audrey Redmond; 4 brothers, Floyd, Fred, Hank, and Bobbie Easley. He was never married and had no children of his own, but loved his nieces and nephews as his own. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Thursday and from 1 p.m. until religious services at 2 p.m on Friday, December 21, 2012. Services conducted by Rev. Mike Schumock. Interment East Fork Cemetery, East Fork, LA. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.

June Austin Spears, Sr.
(July 9, 1930 – December 16, 2012)

A resident of Kentwood, he died at 9:36 a.m. on Sunday, December 16, 2012 at his home. He was born July 9, 1930 in Amite and was 82 years of age. He was the widower of Ruth Ritchie Ott Varnado Spears. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather who was known by many as “Daddy”, “Uncle June”, “PaPa June” and “Nubby”. After graduation from Osyka High School, Mr. June joined the U. S. Air Force where he was a Veteran of Korea. He worked as a police officer for the Baton Rouge City Police and was a retired Boilermaker from the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers NTL. If you needed a job, he was the one to call. And if you did call him, you better be ready to work! He enjoyed gardening on his old Cub tractor and loved to fish and squirrel hunt. With the help of his sons, he built his home using refurbished lumber from old houses. He is survived by 10 children, James Parnell Spears and wife, Lynne, Kentwood, William Bacot Spears, Kentwood, Jeanine Spears Stewart and husband, Allen, Gillsburg, MS, June Austin Spears, Jr., Kentwood, Leigh Ann Spears Wrather, Lt. US Navy (Ret.), Smyrna, TN, John Mark Spears and wife, Linda Ann, Osyka, MS, Linda Ann Brandon Kjos and husband, Ora, Helena, MT, Kenneth Varnado and wife, Mickey, Helena, MT, Alton “Tiance” Varnado, Jr., Kentwood, Culver Varnado and wife, Cathy, Helena, MT; 24 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; brother, James Monroe Spears and wife, Sue, Osyka, MS; very special friend, Mary Ann Day Cutrer, Kentwood. Preceded in death by wives, Jo Ann Blackwell Spears James and Emma Jean Forbes Spears; son, Austin Wayne Spears; grandson, Justin Englo Ballard; parents, June Bacot Spears and Nova Gill Spears Ott. Visitation at Greenlaw Baptist Church, Kentwood, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday with a Masonic Service at 6:30 p.m. and visitation from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m on Saturday, December 22, 2012. Services conducted by Rev. Gibbie McMillan. Interment Osyka Cemetery, Osyka, MS. Pallbearers are Bryan Spears, Jarek Spears, Chad Brandon, Connor Pezant Spears, Kaleb Lee, David Simmons and Logan Yawn. Honorary pallbearers are anyone that Daddy touched their lives. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Greenlaw Baptist Church. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.

I forgot to mention that Ruby Schwartz’s sister, Gloria, passed away yesterday.  She was 20 years older than Ruby and lived in Northwestern USA.  There will be no funeral service/celebration of life service.  Please pray for Ruby and other family members.

Lina Warren Brock
(February 21, 1920 – November 27, 2012)

A resident of Amite, she passed away at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at her home. She was born February 21, 1920 in Lismore, LA and was 92 years of age. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree from Northwestern Louisiana University in 1942, worked as a Rural Sociologist for LSU Ag Center in Baton Rouge and later taught high school until her retirement. She was known as “The Flower Lady” and received numerous Garden of the Month awards. She is survived by her 4 children, Bettie Johnson and husband, Charles, Thibodaux, Carolyn Helms and husband, Vernon, Schriever, Latimer A. “Bubba” Brock, Jr. and wife, Cecelia, Natalbany and Robbie Davenport, Lismore; 11 grandchildren, Kristin H. LaFleur, Latimer A. “Bub” Brock, III, and wife, Jill, Casey H. Smythe and husband, Jimmy, Jay E. Helms and wife, Rosemary, Dennis Lee Brock and wife, Gretchen, Leslie P. Clifton and husband, Bubba, Cristalle Brock, Amanda P. Coleman and husband, Jeffrey, Rebecca J. Overmier and husband, Scott, Lauren J. Jambon and husband, Ross and James B. Brock; 18 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by her husband, Latimer A. Brock, Sr.; son, Ray E. Brock; parents, Pierre and Sally Beard Warren; infant sister, Bettie Etta Warren; second husband, Irvin P. Bernard, Sr. The family would like to thank Community Care Hospice, her two sitters, Jan Hall and her daughter, Robbie, for their dedicated care and service. Visitation at St. Helena Catholic Church, Amite, from 8 a.m. until religious services at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 30, 2012. Services conducted by Fr. Mark Beard. Interment Mulberry Street Cemetery, Amite. McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.