Eunice Koonce Nowlin

Eunice Allegra Koonce Nowlin, age 93, of Natchitoches, LA, died Wednesday, June 15, 2011, at her home in Natchitoches, LA with her children at her side. Arrangements are being handled by Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home, in Natchitoches, LA, where the family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Sunday, June 19, 2011. The funeral service will be at Blanchard St. Denis Chapel at 10:00 AM Monday, June 20, 2011, with Rev. Craig Beeman officiating. Interment will be at Fern Park Cemetery in Natchitoches, LA. Mrs. Eunice was born in Bellwood LA on May 10, 1918 to Phillip A. Koonce and Elizabeth Montgomery Koonce. She was a 1939 graduate from the Louisiana State Normal College. She was married to her true love Rodgers Nowlin, Sr. for 66 wonderful years and they came to live in Natchitoches in 1981. Eunice was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was a caregiver to all who needed help, and always lifted her family up in love. She was a longtime member of Calvary Baptist Church in Natchitoches, and was a member of Eastern Star. Eunice loved her flowers and her sewing. She practiced her faith daily. All who knew her loved her, and she will be dearly missed by her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband and her parents; two infant sisters, Gladys and Viola Koonce; one brother, Philip A. Koonce, Jr.; and two daughters, Hilda Nowlin Smith and infant Karen Nowlin. She is survived by one daughter, Kay Kell and husband Roland of Pascagoula, MS; one son, Rodgers Sherwood Nowlin, Jr. and Shirley of La Marque, TX; six grandchildren, James Harold "Skip" Smith and wife Christina of Pittsburg, PA , James Rodgers "Jay" Smith and wife Corenna of Parkland, FL, Shannon Anderson and husband Donald of Bay St Louis, MS, Stacen Tyskiewicz and husband Mark of Vancouver, WA, Rex Michael Nowlin and Charlotte of Round Rock, TX, and Cam Rodgers Nowlin and wife Abbey of Pearland, TX; eleven great grandchildren, Amanda Smith, Ally Smith, Devon Foucha, Regan Foucha, Sydney Anderson, Delaney Anderson, Jillian Tyskiewicz, Vaughan Tyskiewicz and Jakeb Nowlin; two sisters, Helen Ham of Natchitoches, LA and Edith Ramsey of Zachary, LA; and one brother, Norman Koonce and wife Sue of Mc Lean, VA. Pallbearers will be grandsons Skip Smith, Jay Smith, Donald Anderson, Rex Nowlin, Cam Nowlin; nephews, Gary Ramsey of Zachary, LA, and Wayman Ham of Natchitoches, LA, and great grandson Jake Nowlin of Austin, TX. The family wishes to express its deep appreciation to her caregivers; Alva Lou Floyd, Chione Jackson, and Essie Moore of Natchitoches for the loving care and respect they provided Eunice during her time of need. In lieu of flowers, Eunice has requested that donations or memorials be made to St. Jude Hospital. II Timothy 4:7, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"