Willie Mae LaCaze's Obituary
Funeral Service for Willie Mae LaCaze, 93, of DeRidder, LA, will be at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 18, 2012, at Labby Memorial Funeral Home in DeRidder, LA, with the Rev. Lindsey Burns officiating. Burial will follow at Beauregard Cemetery. The family will receive friends beginning at 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday, February 17, 2012, and Saturday before the service at 10:00 a.m., at the funeral home.
Willie Mae was born March 1, 1918, in Rapides Parish, to Jake and Lola Beeson LaCaze and has lived in DeRidder since 1945. She passed away on Monday, February 13, 2012, at the Westwood Manor Nursing Home in DeRidder.
Willie Mae was a loving Christian woman. She leaves to cherish her memory, two brothers, A.J. LaCaze and wife Dorothy of DeRidder, LA and Louis E. LaCaze and wife Betty of Shreveport, LA; three nieces, Elizabeth “Tannie” Helms and husband Howard of DeRidder, LA, Sue Miller and husband G.T. of Lago Vista, Texas and DeAnna Kamphius and husband Bill of Shreveport, LA; three nephews, Bruce L. Watkins of LaMarque, Texas, Larry A. Watkins and wife Jan of Houston, Texas and Michael L. Watkins and wife Deborah, also of LarMarque, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Nettie Lee LaCaze Watkins and her nephew, Gary W. LaCaze.
Willie Mae graduated from Bolton High School in Alexandria, LA, in 1935. After receiving her Teaching Certificate from Louisiana Normal College in Natchitoches in 1937, she began teaching in Vernon Parish and in 1945, and then continued her teaching career in Beauregard Parish. She subsequently received her BA Degree in Education from Northwestern State College. Upon retiring from teaching in 1978, she continued as an educator, both as a Substitute Teacher and a Private Tutor.
Willie Mae has been a member of the First Baptist Church of DeRidder since 1945 and taught both Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for the early childhood classes. She was a member of Easter Star and the Thursday Study Club. Willie Mae steadfastly believed in family, hard work, honesty and serving the Lord until her final days.
The family would like to thank Dr. Henry Carter and the staff of Westwood Manor Nursing Home for their dedicated care provided to Willie Mae during her last years. In lieu of flowers, donations in Willie Mae’s memory can be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, the Agape Clinic, God’s Food Box or to the charity of one’s choice.
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