Jean H. Philibert

KEITHVILLE, LA - Jean Harriet Philibert Willis, born February 26, 1924, to Joseph Emile and Amy Nita (nee Harris) Philibert, passed into eternal rest on the afternoon of April 4, 2017 after a lengthy illness. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, April 9, 2017 at Grand Cane Cemetery, Grand Cane, La., with Rev. David Permenter officiating. Family was a focus for Jean at an early age, moving to northwest Louisiana and being raised with many Harris cousins and aunts of close age in Grand Cane. Jean and her aunt Evelyn were 6 months apart in age, enjoying a close relationship throughout their entire lives. To the family, Evelyn and Jean were raised as twins and were commonly referred to as "EvaJean." Jean graduated from Grand Cane High School where she lettered in tennis and track, subsequently attending Normal College, now known as Northwestern State University. In college, Jean met Frank Glen McGlathery of Logansport, and they married, eventually having two children, Anita Ruth and Frank Keo McGlathery. Eventually, the McGlatherys settled in Logansport, Frank's hometown. Jean was an avid bridge player and a fixture at the Logansport Bridge Club as well as frequenting the clubs of surrounding towns and the Shreveport-Bossier area to the north. Jean acquired many life-long friends through her rounds on the bridge circuit, playing well into her later years. Sadly, Keo was killed in an accident in 1968, prompting Jean's permanent move to Shreveport. A bridge partner, Gladys Willis, introduced Jean to her son, Bill, a wonderful man. They married and moved to El Dorado, Arkansas, where Jean supported the Art Guild of El Dorado by running the Sack Lunch restaurant; serving First Lady Barbara Bush was her favorite anecdote from this time. Jean and Bill also traveled the world together, visiting multiple continents for bridge and for good fun. They enjoyed good conversation, good food and good company. In 2010, Jean and Bill retired to The Oaks of Louisiana in Shreveport; with less to take care of, they were able to reinvigorate their presence in the bridge scene and enjoyed their later years close to their family. Bill passed away in 2014 and Jean moved several more times, making new friends everywhere she went. Jean is predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Amy Nita, her beloved son, Frank Keo McGlathery, her husband, Bill Willis, and a host of aunts with whom she was raised. Jean is survived by her daughter, Anita McGlathery Bogle; grandchildren, Lucien Douglas Rollins (Deidre) and Amber Rollins Free (Josh); and seven great-grandchildren, James and Jackson Rollins, and Ava, Jacob, Gavin, Austin and Mitchell Free. Honoring Jean as pallbearers will be Jimmy Teague, Ronnie Teague, Johnny Teague, Josh Free, Nevel Ehrhardt, John Hudson, Bryan Willis, and Russell Williams. The family would like to thank Springlake Senior Care and Regional Hospice for their wonderful care; special thanks to Dr. Ben Quinny for providing so many years of care to Jean.