Ray O Hargis

Funeral services for Ray O. Hargis will be Tuesday, April 18, 2017, at 11:00 am at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, LA with Rev. Doug de Graffenried officiating. Interment will follow at American Cemetery in Natchitoches, LA. A visitation will precede the funeral from 10:00 am until service time at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. Dr. Hargis died Friday, April 14, 2017, at the Courtyard of Natchitoches at the age of 94. He was a lifelong resident of Natchitoches, only leaving to go to school and to serve in the Army Air Corp during WWII as a navigator. In a bombing raid over Germany, the very first mission with his crew, Dr. Hargis was shot down and he was eventually captured by the Germans after a month with the French underground. He spent the last year of WWII in a German prison camp. Upon his return to the United States, he attended Texas A & M where he received his degree in veterinary medicine. Returning to Natchitoches, he began a private practice that quickly evolved into strictly large animal work. He eventually went to work for the State of Louisiana as a state veterinarian. He was also a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church of Natchitoches. He was preceded in death by his wife, Annette Hargis; his parents, A.J. and Velma Hargis; one brother, Don Hargis; and one sister, Claire Greene. He is survived by one daughter, Ann Cade and husband James of Natchitoches; three sons, Andy Hargis and wife Frances of Natchitoches, Randall Hargis and wife Patti of Pineville, and Gary Hargis and wife Lynn of Natchitoches; 11 grand- children, Debbie Vienne, Jimmy Cade, Kurt Cade, Amy DesOrmeaux, Melissa Williams, Jessica Hebert, Penny Tullos, Brett Hargis, Jacob Hargis, Shaylynn Hargis, and Linsey Hargis; and 17 great-grandchildren. Those honored to serve as pallbearers include Max Reed, Brett Hargis, Jimmy Cade, Kurt Cade, Jake Hargis and Rick Hargis. The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to those at Natchitoches Assisted Living and the Courtyard who were so kind and concerned with the care of Dr. Hargis.