Obituary for John Ray Ewing
A funeral service for John Ray “J.R.” Ewing will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 27, 2017, at First Christian Church, 400 N. 4th St. Leesville, Louisiana with Reverend Bill Wilson officiating under the direction of Jeane’s Funeral Service. Burial will follow in the Central Louisiana Veteran’s Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
John Ray Ewing was born on July 16, 1932, and passed away on April 23, 2017, at the age of 84. J.R. was born and raised in Broussard, LA. After graduation from high school, he served as a Deputy Sheriff and operated a Texaco service station. In 1961, he was called to active duty in the United States Army. J.R. stayed in the service for the next 26 years and retired as a First Sergeant. His tours of duty were numerous in that he served at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, Korea, Germany, Vietnam, Homestead AFB, Ft. Mead, Maryland, and Ft. Hood, Texas before finally coming to Ft. Polk to retire in 1987. His awards and decorations include the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, w/1 oak leaf cluster, Vietnam Campaign Medal, w/device, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, w/palm, Civil Action of Honor Medal w/oak leaf cluster, and The Bronze Star. Anyone who knew J.R. will agree on one thing, he couldn’t sit still. Since retirement, Leesville has known him as a night club owner, paint and body shop owner, used car dealer, project manager for Tri-State, and most recently for his lawn care service. J.R. was a paid-up-for-life member of the American Legion Post 145, life member and LA State Sgt. at Arms of the VFW, member of the Korean War Veterans Association, Disabled American Veterans member, and Knights of Columbus 3rd degree. J.R. and his wife, Dottie, were community treasures. He had a constant companion since losing Dottie that never left his side. GiGi slept with him and ate with him.
Preceding him in death were his wife Dorothy “Dottie” Ewing; his parents, Anderson and Naomi Ewing; first wife, Elizabeth Ann Rhymes; and his sisters, Margaret Guilbeaux and Helen Gary.
Left to cherish his memory are his son, Kenneth Ray Ewing of Sanford, Florida
Daughters: Carolyn Ann Ewing of Leesville, LA, Janet Ewing Thibodeaux of Orlando, FL, and Wanda Benoit of Fort Worth, TX
Son-in-law: Arthur Thibodeaux
Step sons: Danny Dowd and wife Lisa of Leesville, LA, Lester Oliver and wife Jane of Alba, TX, and Larry Oliver and wife Christine of Fort Knox, Kentucky
Step daughters: Brenda Langford and husband Kim of Marrero, LA and Linda Combs and husband Jesse of Ormond Beach, FL
Sister: Lillian Picard Simoneaux of Lafayette, LA
Grandchildren: Penni Delgaldo, Angela Benoit Procter, Karen Fletcher Tierney, Shannon Kenast, April Speicher, Casey Hayes, Autumn Dowd, Crystal Dowd, Zeek Langford, and Linsey Langford Matherne
Great grandchildren: Alexis, Jayden, Blake, Tylor, Hayden, Matthew, Autumn, Nathan, Amara, Tyler, Abby, Adalaigh, Destiny, Abby, Helena, Victoria, Ralphael, and Zeek Jr.
Great-great grandson: Colton Beau Ellingwood
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John Ray Ewing was born on July 16, 1932, and passed away on April 23, 2017, at the age of 84. J.R. was born and raised in Broussard, LA. After graduation from high school, he served as a Deputy Sheriff and operated a Texaco service station. In 1961, he was called to active duty in the United States Army. J.R. stayed in the service for the next 26 years and retired as a First Sergeant. His tours of duty were numerous in that he served at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, Korea, Germany, Vietnam, Homestead AFB, Ft. Mead, Maryland, and Ft. Hood, Texas before finally coming to Ft. Polk to retire in 1987. His awards and decorations include the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, w/1 oak leaf cluster, Vietnam Campaign Medal, w/device, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, w/palm, Civil Action of Honor Medal w/oak leaf cluster, and The Bronze Star. Anyone who knew J.R. will agree on one thing, he couldn’t sit still. Since retirement, Leesville has known him as a night club owner, paint and body shop owner, used car dealer, project manager for Tri-State, and most recently for his lawn care service. J.R. was a paid-up-for-life member of the American Legion Post 145, life member and LA State Sgt. at Arms of the VFW, member of the Korean War Veterans Association, Disabled American Veterans member, and Knights of Columbus 3rd degree. J.R. and his wife, Dottie, were community treasures. He had a constant companion since losing Dottie that never left his side. GiGi slept with him and ate with him.
Preceding him in death were his wife Dorothy “Dottie” Ewing; his parents, Anderson and Naomi Ewing; first wife, Elizabeth Ann Rhymes; and his sisters, Margaret Guilbeaux and Helen Gary.
Left to cherish his memory are his son, Kenneth Ray Ewing of Sanford, Florida
Daughters: Carolyn Ann Ewing of Leesville, LA, Janet Ewing Thibodeaux of Orlando, FL, and Wanda Benoit of Fort Worth, TX
Son-in-law: Arthur Thibodeaux
Step sons: Danny Dowd and wife Lisa of Leesville, LA, Lester Oliver and wife Jane of Alba, TX, and Larry Oliver and wife Christine of Fort Knox, Kentucky
Step daughters: Brenda Langford and husband Kim of Marrero, LA and Linda Combs and husband Jesse of Ormond Beach, FL
Sister: Lillian Picard Simoneaux of Lafayette, LA
Grandchildren: Penni Delgaldo, Angela Benoit Procter, Karen Fletcher Tierney, Shannon Kenast, April Speicher, Casey Hayes, Autumn Dowd, Crystal Dowd, Zeek Langford, and Linsey Langford Matherne
Great grandchildren: Alexis, Jayden, Blake, Tylor, Hayden, Matthew, Autumn, Nathan, Amara, Tyler, Abby, Adalaigh, Destiny, Abby, Helena, Victoria, Ralphael, and Zeek Jr.
Great-great grandson: Colton Beau Ellingwood
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Previous Events
Visitation
Thursday
27
Apr
10:00 AM
- 1:00 PM
First Christian Church
400 North Fourth Street
Leesville, LA 71446
Funeral
Thursday
27
Apr
1:00 PM
First Christian Church
400 North Fourth Street
Leesville, LA 71446
Cemetery Details
Location
Central Louisiana Veterans' Cemetery
3348 University Parkway
Leesville, LA 71446
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