Stephen Ray French

Stephen Ray French - Submitted for the USGenWeb by Jerry Carter July 4, 2018

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Stephen Ray French, Madison Parish, Louisiana

From Mulhearn Funeral Homes June, 2018

Funeral Services celebrating the life of Mr. Steve French, 77, of Monroe, LA, will be 2:00 PM Sunday, June 3, 2018, at the Whites Ferry Road Church in West Monroe with Mike Kellett and Alan Robertson officiating. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Calhoun under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, Sterlington Road, Monroe, LA.

Stephen Ray French was born August 26, 1940, and went to be with his Lord and Savior on May 27, 2018. He was a member of Whites Ferry Road Church. Steve began his retail management career at the age of 18 when he was promoted to manager of a small grocery store in Delhi, LA. In the 1960’s, he opened and managed various Safeway Stores in Monroe and West Monroe. In 1969 he became grocery supervisor for Howard Brothers Discount retail chain based in Monroe. Throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s, Steve advanced to become Regional Director for the company which extended throughout the Southeastern United States. After leaving Howard Brothers, Mr. French opened and managed the local Sam’s Club. Later in life, he began a second career as a Realtor. He was co-owner and principle broker of Century 21 Shackleford-French Real Estate until he retired in 2015.

Steve was in the Tallulah High School Class of 1958.

During both careers, Steve was elected President of the Safeway Employees Association, the West Monroe Civitan Club and the Northeast Louisiana Association of Realtors. In 2000, Steve was honored to receive the Realtor of the Year Award from Northeast Louisiana Association of Realtors. He also served on a state level as director of the Louisiana Association of Realtors.

Steve’s greatest accomplishment, and most important to him, was the Christian legacy he passed on to his family and countless others he influenced through the years because of his faith in Christ Jesus. What a glorious homecoming he had to walk through heaven’s gates and hear, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

He is preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Juanita Turnage French; brother, Carl French; sister, JoAnn Hagan; brothers-in-law, Olan Dollar, Jr, Mike Mixon, Jerry King and Bob Christopher; sister in law, Mary French; father and mother-in-law, Olan and Ruth Reagan Dollar.

Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Ann Dollar French; daughter, Lynne French Brazzel and her husband Eric Brazzel of Ruston, LA.; son, Chris French and his wife Heather Terry French of Bulverde, TX; three grandsons, Reagan and Logan Brazzel, and Noah French; three granddaughters, Kaylyn Brazzel, and Carleigh and Ellison French; brother, Luther “Luke” French and his wife Jo Ann Ellerman French; sister, Liz King; brother, Don French; sister, Margie Mixon; brother, Dennis French and wife Sherry Stanley French; brother-in-law, John Hagan; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many special friends.

The family would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Shane Davidson and the entire staff of Americare sitter services and especially to Helen Daniels and Tamara Ross who lovingly attended to the needs of our precious husband and daddy every day. They were so sweet and kind and cared for our loved one like family. We are eternally grateful for the loving attention from Premier Hospice and for Stephanie Reeves, who guided us into the Hospice Care program. and to Candy Hibbard and Ella Lee who saw to the needs of our family and especially to Steve. Finally, we are truly thankful for the kind professional care Steve received from Dr. Johnathan Baines and Dr. Tommy Smith of Green Clinic and their exceptional staff of nurses.

Pallbearers will be Steve’s nephews: Trace Dollar, Jeff Watts, Jeff Brown, Stephen French, Michael Christopher, Derek Mixon, Joel Stone and Casey French. Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the West Monroe Civitan’s Club.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Parkinson’s Foundation.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM Saturday, June 2, 2018, at Mulhearn Funeral Home, Sterlington Road, Monroe.