Antonio Miguel Esparza

Antonio Miguel Esparza, 24, of Natchitoches, Louisiana, died September 24, 2015 as a result of accidental injuries sustained on a land rig in Oklahoma. He was born August 9, 1991 in Natchitoches, the son of Miquel Esparza and Pamela Bennett Smith. He attended and graduated from Natchitoches Central High School in 2010. Antonio is survived by his parents Miquel Esparza and Pamela Bennett Smith; brother, Cruz Esparza; his mother’s spouse Johnny Smith; step-sister, Ashley Bartels and step-brother, J.T. Smith; his maternal grandmother, Patsy Young Bennett; paternal grandparents, Martina Esparza and Cruz Esparza. He is also survived by his maternal uncle, Robert Bennett and Aunt Donna Gallien; paternal aunts and uncles, Maria Esqueda, Elivira Luna, and spouse, Pedro; Elodia Alvarado, Manuel Esparza, and spouse, Silvina; Yolanda Esparza, Marie Elena Esparza, and spouse Juan Hernandez; and Agueda Esparza, and Scott Hardwick; many cousins, and friends. He is preceded in death by maternal grandfather, Ellie Ray Bennett, and paternal uncle, Raymond Esparza. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 30, 2015, at St. Anthony Catholic Church with Father Mark and Father Pedro officiating. Burial will be at Russell Cemetery at Montrose (Red Dirt Road). Serving as pallbearers will be Cruz Esparza, Steele Merritt, Chris “Biscuit” Sellers, Brett “Bubba” Jordan, Kirk Rachal, and Colby Kilgore. Honorary pallbearers will be Kyle Yocum, Anthony Bennett, Matthew Bennett, Rusty Moss, Cody Gourdon, Caleb Lacaze, Matthew Moran, J.B. Outlaw, Brandon Outlaw, Jason Owecki, and Stevie Owecki. The family will receive friends at the Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home from 5 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, September 29, 2015. A love fund will be set up at Bank of Montgomery in memory of Antonio to fulfill his love of bull-riding.