Elmer "Dick" James

Elmer S. “Dick” James, age 84, of Marthaville, LA, passed away Thursday, August 2, 2007, at Willis-Knighton Medical Center in Shreveport, LA. He was born December 16, 1922 in Marthaville, LA, where he lived most all of his life. He served in the Army during World War II in the Armored Tank Division in the South Pacific Region. After being honorably discharged from the Army, he returned home to Marthaville. He started with the Natchitoches Parish School Board as a bus driver shortly there after, where he retired after 33 years of service. He loved to work with horses and cows, with riding and roping being among his favorite hobbies. He was a member of Beulah United Methodist Church, Veteran Of Foreign Wars, and the Oliff Fair American Legion Post. He loved his family and friends and will be dearly missed by all. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank James and Willie Ingram James; and two grandchildren, Amy James and Melissa Dowden. He is also survived by his wife Virginia “Deannie” James; two sons, Elmer Lane James and wife Debbie of Campti, LA and Sam D. James and wife Jennifer of Marthaville, LA; two daughters, Myra L. Dowden and husband Kenneth of Marthaville, LA and Lawana D. Powell and husband Bonny of Marthaville, LA; ten grandchildren, Joey Powell, Janna Nichols, Kim Dowden, Emily Broadway, Micah James, Travis James, Lana Hightower, Lauren Leone, Kendall Leone, and Anna McClung; seven great-grandchildren; two brothers, Earl James of Marthaville, LA and Huey James of Roseville, CA; and two sisters, Ruth Hampton of Baton Rouge, LA and Louise Maroney of Pleasant Hill, LA. Pall bearers will be Micah James, Travis James, Joey Powell, Kenneth Dowden, Joseph Powell, and Skylor House. Arrangements are being handled by Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, LA, where the family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM Saturday, August 4, 2007. The funeral service will be at the Beulah United Methodist Church at 2:00 PM Sunday, August 5, 2007 , with Rev. John Foster officiating. Interment will follow at Beulah Cemetery in Marthaville, LA.