Obituaries
Reminder of Services
WENDELL G. MCLEROY
Visitation for Wendell George McLeroy will be held from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. today. Funeral will be held Monday at 12:30 p.m. at O.H. Pye, III Funeral Home 17600 Plymouth Rd. Detroit, MI 48227. Online condolences can be sent to www.pyefuneralhome.com.
Obituaries
WILLIAM C. SOUTHMAYD
William Clark Southmayd (Bill), 91, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 17, 2018 to be with his Lord and Savior.
He is survived by his daughter, Janet Holcomb, and her husband, Kenneth; son, William Clark Southmayd Jr., and his wife Patricia; as well as grandchildren Laura Holcomb Gardner, Benjamin David Holcomb, Sarah Southmayd Tannahill and William David Southmayd. He was preceded in death by his older brother Laban Howell Southmayd, Jr. on February 18, 2005 and wife Sybil Drake Southmayd on March 17, 2006.
Bill was well known as a loving family man, friend without pretense, consummate professional, avid golfer, adventurous traveler and gifted singer. He was a man of deep faith and integrity with a generous nature. He loved life and lived it to the fullest.
Bill was born October 3, 1925 and raised in Eldorado, Arkansas by his parents Laban Howell Southmayd, Sr. of Van Buren, Arkansas and Olive Wood Southmayd of Paris, Arkansas. His father was a local attorney who attended the University of Arkansas and Harvard Law School. His mother also attended the University of Arkansas and was one of the earliest female degree recipients in 1912, graduating in only three years. She and Bill were also recognized as descendants of the Mayflower.
Bill matriculated to the University of Arkansas at age 15 under a special program that allowed dual application of credits to high school and college. He spent two wonderful years as a loyal brother of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and avid Razorback football fan. He also developed an interest in the petroleum industry from summer jobs working in the office of the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission and roustabouting for Lion Oil Company of El Dorado.
In January 1945 he was inducted and followed his brother’s lead by joining the Navy. Bill served on Navy USS PC 1139, U-Boat patrol vessel, along the Pacific coast as a radio electronic technician’s mate towards the end of World War II. He was honorably discharged in July 1946 receiving the American Theater Medal and Victory Medal. After the war he returned to the university for a year.
Bill transferred to the University of Oklahoma in 1947 to pursue a degree in petroleum engineering. At OU he added an allegiance to the Sooners and was a member of the men’s Glee Club. He also worked one summer for Kerr McGee as a mud engineer on one of the first offshore oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. He received his degree in 1949.
After graduation Bill held reservoir engineering positions with both Phillips Petroleum in Minden, Louisiana and Murphy Oil in El Dorado, Arkansas. In 1955 he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma and joined Raymond F. Kravis and Associates as a reservoir engineer. There he served as President for 20 years of a 40-year tenure. He subsequently purchased the firm, re-naming it to Southmayd and Associates, and operated it for an additional 10 years until his retirement. He was a registered Professional Engineer and a long-time member of the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers.
While working in Minden, Bill was set up on a blind-date with local music teacher Sybil Drake who became the love of his life and wife of over 54 years. He loved spending time with family and friends, keeping them smiling with a fun-loving sense of humor. Many an evening was spent singing around the piano as Sybil played. In addition, he traveled extensively with Sybil and family.
Bill also had a passion for playing golf. He was an active member of Southern Hills Country Club with several tournament trophies to his credit. He even arranged yearly golf excursions for his golf buddies, known as “The Dawn Patrol.”
Bill served numerous organizations over the years. He was a member and two-year leader of Hillcrest Associates, followed by four years on the board of trustees for Hillcrest Medical Center. He also volunteered at the Tulsa Boys Home as a member of the Nicholas Club. A life-long Presbyterian, Bill served in many church leadership positions, including Elder. Additionally, he contributed his resonant tenor voice to various secular and church choirs, most recently with the “Singing Men” at First Presbyterian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Friday, October 5th at 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary, followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice. Moore’s Rosewood Chapel, 7441202.
BENJAMIN L. TUCKER
Benjamin Laverne “Ben” Tucker, 84, of Junction City, LA. passed away Friday, September 28, 2018, at his home in Junction City.
Ben was born August 9, 1934 in Junction City, AR to the union of Christopher C. Tucker and Munnie Powell Tucker.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, Ella Janet Tucker, Helen Sterling, and Dorothy Nell Byram, and one nephew, J.K. Byram.
Ben was a retired truck driver, a veteran of the U.S. Army and a long time member of the First Baptist Church in Junction City, AR.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Gloria M. Tucker of Junction City, LA, one brother, Alvin Oneal Tucker and wife Donalda of Georgetown, TX, three nephews, William Edward Sterling and wife Kendall of Richmond, VA, Tim Sterling and wife
Lisa of Nixa, MO, and Duane Tucker of Aurora, CO, five nieces, Laurie Tucker of Gillette, WY, Linda Perez and husband Michael of Bakersfield, CA, Judy Ann Tucker of Phoenix, AZ, Lisa Lay of Bernice, LA, and Deborah Jan Goocher of Farmerville, LA.
Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Sunday, September 30, 2018 at the Bailey Funeral Home in Junction City, AR.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, October 1, 2018 at the First Baptist Church in Junction City, AR with Rev. Bruce Cardin and Rev. James Bynum officiating. Interment will be in the Roselawn Cemetery in Junction City, AR under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home of Junction City, AR.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to CARTI, Carti Way, Little Rock, AR 72205, St Judes Childrens Research Hospital, or Campassus Hospice, 100 S. Trenton St., Ruston, LA 71270.
Please visit www.baileyfuneralhome.net to sign the online register book.
CHARLIE M. WOOD
Woody Wood, 90, of Luling, Louisiana passed away on Sept 25, 2018 at his home after a lengthy illness.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife of 68 years, Dorothy (White) Wood; his daughter and son in law, Debra and Randy Gilbert of Madison, N.C.; his son, Glenn Ray Wood (Woody) of Luling, LA; three grandsons Josh Gilbert and his wife Trish of High Point, N.C.; Jason Gilbert and his wife Mary of Wilmington, N.C.; Richard Wood and his wife, Amy, of Cuba; one granddaughter, Angela Oxford of Hammond, LA; four great grandsons, Nicholas Gilbert, Ben Gilbert, Lane Wood, and Jarrott Oxford; four great granddaughters, Mary Ellen Gilbert, Zoe Gilbert, Madison Wood,
and Haidyn Wood; a sister, Shirley Booker of North Zulch , TX , and numerous nieces and nephews.
Born at home on November 20, 1927 in Columbia County, Arkansas, the son of Daniel and Edna Wood, he was a lifelong resident of El Dorado, Arkansas until he was transferred to Luling, LA in 1954 with Monsanto Chemical Company. After 38 years with Monsanto, he retired in 1985.
Woody served in the United States Marines Corp from 1952 until 1954. After his basic training at Camp Pendleton, he served most of his military time in Oceanside, California and in Japan. When Woody, along with his wife, Dorothy, and six-month-old daughter, Debra, transferred to Luling, LA, in 1954, they discovered there was no Church of Christ congregation in the area. They, along with the Watts family and the Brown family, established a congregation which held services at the Watts’ home and then met in a tent. When thy grew and purchased land for a building, Woody was the primary carpenter who built the new Luling Church of Christ building where the congregation still meets today.
Woody was an avid fisherman all his life and spent many happy times fishing in the bayous and lakes of South Louisiana. He was the type of fisherman who could come home with a nice catch when others did not find the fish to be biting.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. at Young’s Funeral Directors Chapel in El Dorado. Visitation will begin at 1:00 P.M. prior to the service. Burial will follow at Smackover Cemetery under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors. The funeral service will be conducted by Allen White and Charlie White who are Woody’s nephews.
A memorial service will be held at a later date at the Church of Christ in Luling, LA.