Loretta Beal

Ella “Loretta” Shoemake Beal, age 72, of Natchitoches, LA, passed away Saturday, November 29, 2008, at Natchitoches Nursing and Rehabilitation. 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 Sunday, November 30, 2008. The funeral service will be at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home at 10:00 AM Monday, December 1, 2008, with Rev. Craig Beeman officiating. Interment will be at Old Pisgah Cemetery in Marthaville, LA. Loretta was a wonderful mother, grandmother, sister, mother-in-law, and friend. She was a Christian lady who was very active in her church when she was able. She enjoyed working with arts and crafts and she loved to shop. Loretta served 20 years as president for the VFW Ladies Auxiliary post 1962. She also served as a pink lady at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center and volunteered at the Natchitoches Council on Aging. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, John Shoemake and Winnie Kelly Shoemake; one son, Phillip Thompson; and one brother, W.M. "Bo" Kelly. She is survived by her husband Lonnie Edwin Beal, Sr. of Natchitoches, LA; one daughter, Shelia Thompson of Natchitoches, LA; one daughter-in-law, Kay Lasyone of Montgomery, LA; two sisters, Ellen Lewis of Carencro, LA and Esther Campbell of Belmont, LA; one brother, Hoyt Shoemake of Hobbs, NM, one grandson, Shawn Childress of Lafayette, LA; one granddaughter, Heather Lockwood of Natchitoches, LA; two step granddaughters, Lysha Lacroix and Faith Radzimoski; and six step great grandchildren.