John "Johnny" Theodore Batten, III

Johnny was a kind man, a gentle soul, and loving son, brother and uncle. He enjoyed laughing and being with friends. He was an excellent “ski wizard” having mastered “barefooting” at the tender age of 10. He loved Cane River and God’s earthly soil. He started farming with his father and drove tractors on Riverside Plantation long before he was “legal” to drive. He started his own farm operation at the age of 18 while he was also attending Northwestern State University. About 300 acres were ploughed, planted and harvested for 11 years and successfully yielded cotton and soybeans every year. Farming was hard work on the body and Johnny, because of several health issues, transformed his love for the land into Batten Lawn and Landscape, a business he operated for 12 years. He earned his Horticulturist and Landscaping Licenses in order to provide these services for the benefit of individuals and businesses throughout the Natchitoches area. Johnny, as a 7th generation descendant of Oakland Plantation was proud to become employed with the National Park Service at Oakland and Magnolia Plantations as a groundskeeper and eventually retired his lawn service. He worked for NPS in the capacity as a tractor technician tending to the beautiful lawns of Oakland and Magnolia, as well as using his skills as a motor mechanic to maintain and update equipment. At the time of his death, he had served 14 years with the Federal Government under the National Parks Service. Johnny is survived by his parents, John and Kathleen Batten; his sister, Becky Vead and her husband Larry; his precious niece of which he was so proud, Lindsay Alexis Vead; brother-in-law, Johnny Payne Harrison; aunt, Daisy Prudhomme; aunt, Gwen Lott and her children, Sonny Hyams, David Hyams and Katy Hyams Lyons; and his ever-faithful companions, Mott and Nitro. He is preceded in death by his sister, Barbra Batten Harrison; his grandparents, Desiree Cloutier Prudhomme and F. Reginald Prudhomme, and Katie Mae Masling Batten and John T. Batten, Sr. He is also survived by many “aunts and uncles” and cousins, too many to name, who loved him as a son and brother. God has placed Johnny in his loving care and has granted him his absolute best “miracle”. He has made Johnny whole again. While he was taken from us far too soon, we know that God’s plan is magnificent and perfect. We will never doubt that. We will miss him oh so much, but he is celebrating with his sister in Heaven and we know that is a joyous reunion. We are truly blessed to know those two souls are holding us in their arms. A visitation will be held on Sunday, August 2, 2015, beginning at 5:00 pm and ending at 7:00 pm, for us to celebrate Johnny’s life with a rosary recitation at 6:30 p.m. at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, LA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, August 3, 2015, at 10:00 am, at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Natchitoches, LA with Rev. Louis Sklar and Rev. Ryan Humphries officiating. Pallbearers honored to serve are John Abraham, Jack Antilley, Rev. Ocie Lee Charles, David Hyams, Harry “Sonny” Hyams, Chase Walker, Richard Williamson and Mike Vienne. Honorary pallbearers are Joey Antilley (Johnny’s Godson), Carey Blanchard, Johnny Payne Harrison, Mark Massia, Beebe Martin, Miller Martin, Tommy Martin, Lynwood Powell and Steve Verzwyvelt, Jr. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Charles Borromeo Preservation Society, 1490 Highway 119, Bermuda, LA, 71456, or to a charity of your choice. Special thanks and appreciation are given to Bryan Picou, Cissy Picou, Louisiana Extended Care Hospital, and Hospice of Natchitoches for the excellent care and caring for Johnny. We sincerely appreciate the courtesies you have afforded our family and our precious Johnny.