3
trees
planted in memory of William Odell Behan
Obituary for William Odell Behan
William Odell Behan Jr or “JUNIOR” as we all called him passed away May 24, 2024, around 9:00 PM, following a devastating 4 month battle with cancer.
Funeral services honoring the life of William Odell Behan, Jr., will be held on Monday, May 27, 2024, at Oak Grove Baptist Church, at 2:00 PM with Bro. Wayne Chance and Bro. John Lewing officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery under the direction of Jeane’s Funeral Service.
Visitation will be held on Monday from 11:00 AM until time of service.
Junior was born October 25, 1952, at Frazier Hospital in Many, Louisiana to Odell & Betty Behan who resided in Hornbeck Louisiana. He attended Hornbeck elementary and high school graduating May 17, 1970. With the advice & counsel of his ole Vocational Agriculture teacher, Mr. JH Self, he attended and graduated from McNeese State University with a degree in Forestry & Forestry Management. Following graduation he was employed by Vancouver Plywood in Florien in their tree procurement division. Over the years he became an awesome timber cruiser & estimator in negotiating and buying both large and small tracts of timber. Later he worked for Wesley Harrelson Sawmill, before forming his own company, B&B Woods, operating in the central Louisiana area as well as Arkansas & Mississippi. He ended his working adventure as manager of the Mansfield yard for Western Company of Texas engaged in procuring, furnishing and pumping fresh water for fracking operations in the Haynesville Shale Play in North Louisiana & East Texas.
Over & above all that, Junior was a great husband and daddy. He and Velva were foster parents for all of their 41 years of marriage. He had a big heart and was always willing and able to help friends, family and even strangers with any and everything that he could to make his and others lives better!
We would be negligent here to omit his love of the outdoors- fishing and hunting. This love started early in his life, fostered by his grandpa, Aulcia, who would take Jr & Dale and his ole hunting buddy Bill Ford squirrel, quail, or deer hunting EVERY Saturday morning during season- EVERY SATURDAY- rain or shine- EVERY SATURDAY!! Jr absolutely became a fan of the outdoors and truly became an avid outdoor enthusiast!
His enthusiasm was most pronounced in his EXPERT proficiency in preparing deer habitat with the associated deer blinds, feeders and all this entails- obviously involving all in his family who had a desire to participate and contribute- a true love and joy for all involved. Let us not forget the ALL ENCOMPASSING caribou and elk hunts to Saskatchewan, Canada and Kuujjuaq, Quebec with all his buddies- a true Jr hallmark & tradition
Finally Jr did not adorn his 3 piece suit and tie every Sunday and meet you at the church and preach you a sermon on how outstanding a Christian he was and all the great things he did the past week to make his way to heaven.Instead, he took just the opposite “ NOT SO NOTICEABLE APPROACH” telling NOBODY anything about his good goings & comings- truly taking the low high road! That said, Jr had and knew the secret as to what it takes in order to arrive at the Pearly Gates upon our departure - and that is Jesus. He accepted Jesus at an early age at Bible School at The OLD Hornbeck Baptist Church where our family went every Sunday and was baptized in the old church.
As we come to the end of Life’s journey and arrive at where Jr is today- REALLY- few things REALLY matter- - the one that REALLY DOES- JR HAD!!
He was proceeded in death by his parents Betty and Odell Behan, his daughter-in-law, Crystal Johnson Norris, his sister-in-law’s Evelyn Lord Behan and Sarah Bridgeman, and brother-in-law, Ray Kyle.
He is survived by Velva, his loving wife of 41 years, his two daughters Nikol Behan Weeks of Hornbeck, Brenda Norris, of Leesville, son, Tracy Manning and wife Dana of Anacoco, 8 grandchildren, Trace Foote, JoJo Weeks, Sean Weeks, Michael Funderburk, Madison Funderburk, Emily Norris, Abigail Norris, and Connor Norris, 7 great grandchildren, Lilly Foote, Raelyn Foote, Ella Boggs, Ryland Hines, Maddix Funderburk, Ryhatt Funderburk, & Maizee Funderburk, brother Dale Behan and wife Linda and sister Shirley Kyle Jones and husband Kenneth.
I want to give a special thanks to all the staff of CHRISTUS St. Francis Cabrini Hospital, and the palliative care unit, along with Compassionate Hospice whose combined efforts made a huge difference to our family to provide Jr with the utmost appropriate attention and care. To the Leesville dialysis center and a special thanks to our dear friends and extended family for all their help and support, especially David and Neda Robertson. He may be gone from our sight, but he will never be forgotten in our hearts…
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Previous Events
Visitation
Monday
27
May
11:00 AM
- 2:00 PM
Oak Grove Baptist Church
115 Oak Grove Road
Hornbeck, LA 71439
Service
Monday
27
May
2:00 PM
Oak Grove Baptist Church
115 Oak Grove Road
Hornbeck, LA 71439
Cemetery Details
Location
Oak Grove Cemetery
590 Hwy. 392
Hornbeck, LA 71439
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