Carole A. Blackson-Coleman

MARSHALL, TX - Carole A. Blackson-Coleman, 67, died on Sunday, July 5, 2015 surrounded by friends and family. Visitation will be from 5-7:00PM on Thursday, July 9, 2015 at Rose-Neath in Bossier City, LA. A service celebrating her life and times will also be held at Rose-Neath at 11:00AM on Friday, July 10, 2015. Dennis Aaron, pastor of the Open Range Fellowship Church in Greenwood, LA will officiate. Interment will follow at Hill Crest Memorial Park in Haughton, LA. Preceded in death by her parents, Bernice and Louis Kudrna, she is survived by her husband of 22 years, Jim O. Coleman; mother and father-in-law, Jim and Lillian C. Hall of Bossier City, LA; brother, Glen Kitchell and wife, Lucy of Yuma, AZ; brother-in-law, Rod Coleman and wife, Cheryl of Bella Vista, AR. Children include son, Howard Blackson and wife Kristin of San Diego, CA; step-daughter, Lisa Weaver and husband, Fred of Doyline, LA and step-daughter, Brandi Coleman of Chicago, IL. Grandchildren include Georgia and Layla Blackson, Samuel Cody and Tyler Miller. A host of cousins, dear friends, and "The Divas" (Mona McCracken-Brown, Regina Brunson-Lee, Christie Maranto, Glenda P. Melton, and Jeri Akins-Carleton) will also cherish her memory. Special mention is in order for long-time friends, Ann and the late Fred Dennington who brought Jim and Carole Ann together 24 years ago. Carole Ann was born on April 2, 1948 in Virginia Beach, VA, but grew up in San Diego, CA before moving to east Texas in 1978. She will be remembered as one of God's most special caregivers for "horses, turtles, frogs, and ditch dogs", a "job" which began as a young girl and extended into her final days at their home in Marshall, TX. Many multi-car pileups were narrowly avoided as she stopped regularly to help slow moving turtles across the road and feed burgers to homeless pups. She loved cowboys and enjoyed competing in barrel-racing competitions. Honoring Carole Ann as pallbearers are Bobby Leflett, John Maranto, Woody Mosely, Tim Murphrey, Bill Smith, and Frank Snell. Honorary pallbearers include James Gillam, Dan Moller, Buddy Wagstaff, Kenneth Watson, and Grady Wedgeworth. The family would like to extend their gratitude to her Doctors, Dan Moller, Maxwell "Chip" McDonald, Michael Durci, and Kevin Marler. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials on Carole Ann's behalf be made to St. Jude's or the charity of your choice.